The UFC and Paramount+ have announced a new six-year agreement that will make Paramount+ the exclusive home for UFC Numbered Event main cards in Canada beginning in 2027. Under the new deal, Canadian residential subscribers will be able to watch UFC Pay-Per-View main cards through their Paramount+ subscription without paying an additional PPV fee.
While this represents a major step toward making UFC more accessible to residential viewers, it also has the potential to grow the sport’s fan base in Canada, creating broader awareness, deeper engagement, and stronger long-term demand for live UFC viewing experiences in commercial venues.
Why Commercial Licensing Still Matters
Showing a UFC event in a commercial setting provides a fundamentally different experience than residential viewing. Commercial licensing grants businesses the legal right to broadcast events to large audiences and allows venues to leverage some of the most anticipated sporting events of the year to attract customers.
For bars and restaurants, UFC events continue to deliver significant value by:
- Driving strong in-venue demand with fans who prefer the big-screen, high-energy bar experience.
- Attracting groups of 3–5 highly engaged customers for 3+ hour events, with 88% returning on non-UFC nights.
- Creating consistent revenue opportunities through increased food and beverage sales on fight nights.
- Supporting long-term growth in UFC fandom as greater accessibility expands the overall audience and increases event demand in venues.
Business as Usual for Commercial Customers
Although the residential viewing landscape is evolving, the need for a commercial license remains unchanged.
As the UFC continues to grow globally and attract millions of passionate fans, commercial establishments remain an important part of the sport’s ecosystem, offering fans a shared viewing experience while creating valuable business opportunities for venue operators.
We will continue to monitor any future developments and provide updates should there be any changes affecting commercial customers.
For now, commercial customers can continue planning their UFC event nights with confidence—it’s business as usual.
