[8-K] TKO Group Holdings, Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

TKO Group announced a seven-year media rights agreement with Paramount that makes Paramount the exclusive U.S. home for all UFC events beginning in 2026. The deal carries an average annual value of $1.1 billion, with UFC’s marquee numbered events and Fight Nights distributed on Paramount+ and select events simulcast on CBS.

The Agreement’s payment schedule is explicitly weighted toward the back end of the term. TKO expects revenue recognition to follow industry practice for large media-rights contracts, producing roughly similar annual recognition with single-digit percent escalators each year.

Positive

• $1.1 billion AAV indicates a materially large, multi-year revenue stream
• Seven-year exclusive U.S. rights provide long-term commercial visibility for UFC content
• Distribution on Paramount+ with select CBS simulcasts ensures both streaming reach and broadcast exposure
• Revenue recognition is expected to follow industry standard, providing predictable annual reporting with single-digit escalators

Negative

• Payments are weighted toward the back end of the deal

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR: A materially valuable, multi-year rights deal that provides significant revenue visibility but with back-loaded payments.

The seven-year agreement at an AAV of $1.1 billion is a clearly material commercial contract that should provide long-term revenue visibility and scale for TKO’s media revenue. The filing states revenue recognition will mirror industry norms—similar annual recognition with single-digit escalators—which suggests steady reported revenue rather than front-loaded spikes. The explicit note that payments are weighted toward the back end is important for cash-flow timing and financial planning.

Media Rights Industry Specialist

TL;DR: Paramount+ as the exclusive U.S. distributor centralizes UFC consumption and leverages streaming plus broadcast simulcasts.

Distributing UFC’s numbered events and Fight Nights primarily via Paramount+ with select simulcasts on CBS aligns with current streaming-plus-broadcast strategies and can drive subscriber engagement for Paramount. The seven-year exclusivity in the U.S. represents a strategic consolidation of rights that should simplify national distribution. The contract’s back-weighted payment profile is a common structuring feature but will affect when cash is received versus when rights are delivered.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 11, 2025

TKO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		001-41797		92-3569035
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 Fifth Ave, 7th Floor
New York, New York				10010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 646-558-8333

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share		TKO		The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 11, 2025, TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing a new media rights agreement with Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (“Paramount”), to distribute UFC events in the U.S. as further described in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The full text of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1 hereto) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 11, 2025, the Company announced a new media rights agreement (the “Agreement”) with Paramount with a seven-year term and an average annual value (“AAV”) of $1.1 billion, through which Paramount will become the exclusive home of all UFC events in the U.S. beginning in 2026. Pursuant to the Agreement, UFC’s full slate of marquee numbered events and Fight Nights will be distributed via Paramount’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform, Paramount+, with select events to be simulcast on CBS, Paramount’s broadcast network. The Agreement’s payment schedule is weighted more toward the back end of the deal. We expect our revenue recognition to be consistent with our other large, media rights contracts and in line with the sports media rights industry standard of being similar each year with single digit percent annual escalators.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated August 11, 2025.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

						TKO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: August 11, 2025				By:		/s/ Andrew Schleimer
				Name:		Andrew Schleimer
				Title:		Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

What did TKO (TKO) announce in this filing?

TKO announced a new media rights agreement with Paramount giving Paramount exclusive U.S. rights to all UFC events, delivered via Paramount+ and select simulcasts on CBS.

How long is the agreement and what is its value?

The Agreement has a seven-year term with an average annual value of $1.1 billion.

When will Paramount begin broadcasting UFC events in the U.S.?

Paramount will become the exclusive U.S. home for UFC events beginning in 2026.

How will TKO recognize revenue from this Agreement?

TKO expects revenue recognition to be consistent with other large media-rights contracts and the sports industry standard: similar each year with single-digit percent annual escalators.

Are there any notable payment terms disclosed?

Yes. The filing states the Agreement’s payment schedule is weighted more toward the back end of the deal.