Paramount Global has secured a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion exclusive U.S. media rights deal for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), effective from 2026, marking the end of the UFC's pay-per-view model and its current agreement with ESPN.

The deal, announced Monday, makes Paramount+ the exclusive streaming home for all 13 marquee numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights annually, with select events also airing on CBS. This move follows Paramount's recent acquisition by Skydance Media, with the new leadership under CEO David Ellison seeing the UFC as a "unicorn sports asset" and a cornerstone for growth.

UFC President Dana White announced the deal on social media, calling it a "huge win" and stating, "This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform."

Paramount Global, under new CEO David Ellison, emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, stating, "We think it is going to be incredibly material in terms of increasing our engagement on Paramount+, driving subscriber acquisitions and also meaningfully growing revenue across the business." Ellison also described the UFC as a "global sports powerhouse" and a "unicorn asset."

The deal replaces a five-year agreement with ESPN, which was valued at approximately $500 million annually and ended at the close of 2025. The new agreement, averaging $1.1 billion per year, is weighted toward the later years of the seven-year term.

Negotiations accelerated significantly after the Skydance-Paramount merger was finalized, with the final deal reportedly negotiated in just 48 hours. TKO Group, the parent company of UFC, initially considered splitting the rights but ultimately secured the full package with Paramount. The deal also opens the possibility for Paramount to pursue UFC rights in international markets as they become available.

An Israeli airstrike targeted a tent housing journalists outside Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday, killing Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, along with four other Al Jazeera staff members: reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa.

Al-Shifa Hospital is a major medical center that has been largely destroyed over the past 22 months of conflict. Seven people were killed in total, including the five Al Jazeera staff and two bystanders.

In the moments before his death, al-Sharif posted a video on social media showing intense Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, warning of "fire belts" being used on the eastern and southern parts of the city. He had previously written a final message, expressing his sorrow for his family and his unwavering commitment to reporting the truth without distortion, stating he "never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is."

Al Jazeera confirmed the deaths of its staff and condemned the strike, describing al-Sharif as a well-known and courageous reporter who had extensively covered northern Gaza. The network had recently denounced the Israeli military for a "campaign of incitement" against its reporters, including al-Sharif, who had been repeatedly threatened.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also confirmed the strike, claiming al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and military forces, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza.

The IDF claimed the documents found in Gaza provided "unequivocal proof" of al-Sharif's military affiliation with Hamas. However, analysts and human rights groups have stated there is "zero evidence" of his involvement in hostilities, asserting his entire routine was reporting from the front lines.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and the UN have expressed grave concern, warning that such accusations are part of "campaign of incitement" and "smear campaign" to discredit journalists and justify their killing.

Al-Sharif, a graduate of Al-Aqsa University, was a prominent voice for Al Jazeera Arabic since the war began in October 2023.