UFC pay-per-view prices have increased four times since the promotion inked its broadcast deal with ESPN in 2018. Unsurprisingly, that has led to a significant increase in piracy.
Over the last five years, the cost of a UFC pay-per-view event has jumped up from $59.99 to the current $79.99 asking price which was implemented in 2023. During a quarterly financial call on Thursday, TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro acknowledged that the aggressive increase in cost over the last few years has resulted in an even higher number of pirated cards.
“ESPN and Disney were very aggressive, if you will, on pricing the pay-per-views and they have full control over that, but they have control given what they’re paying us for those rights,” Shapiro said.