• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

TKO President Mark Shapiro Pops Talk of Valuation Bubble, Defends UFC Deal

TKO president and COO Mark Shapiro tells Front Office Sports that UFC’s international media rights will be sold on a deal-by-deal basis.

Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Brad Tavares (red gloves) fights Robert Bryczek (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena.
Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

GREAT TEW, ENGLAND — TKO’s Mark Shapiro isn’t buying the talk of bubbles in sports team and media rights valuations.

“Two of the most popular misconceptions over the last five years are that sports has hit a bubble and sports rights have hit a bubble,” the president and COO of TKO Group Holdings tells Front Office Sports ahead of the IMG-RedBird Summit 2025.

He points to recent NFL and NBA franchise valuations—the 49ers at $8.5 billion, the Bears at $8.8 billion, the Lakers at $10 billion and the Giants at more than that—and says it’s clear the market hasn’t hit a wall. 

As for media rights, Shapiro hits back at the notion that Paramount overpaid for UFC’s U.S. media rights through the seven-year, $7.7 billion deal reached last month. TKO Group owns UFC, WWE, Professional Bull Riders, and IMG, a sports marketing agency.

“The whole topic is absurd,” he says. “Did Rupert Murdoch overpay when he got the NFL for Fox?”

The Paramount deal, he says, was simply a reflection of UFC’s market value. “The UFC was in high demand, I’ll put it that way. You’re going to pay what you need to pay if you really want to get the asset.”

For Shapiro, it’s not just about individual deals or valuations. It’s the bigger picture of what makes sports uniquely valuable. 

“Sports is the last bastion of unifying content in this world,” he tells FOS.

That conviction underpins TKO’s aggressive strategy. The company has shifted UFC’s business away from the $80 pay-per-view model and toward broader distribution on Paramount+, where CBS plans to use the fights as premium content to attract subscribers.

“Pay-per-view is gone with UFC, no question about it,” Shapiro says. “Pay-per-view is one of the reasons boxing has slipped back over the last couple decades. Prices got out of control. This is going to be an enormous boost.”

Moving away from pay-per-view hasn’t made it any easier to solve one of sports’ longest-running headaches: late-night finishes. Fans complain when marquee bouts end after 1 a.m. on the East Coast, but Shapiro says there’s no perfect solution.

“Yes, it can be improved,” he says. “But there is no magic serum that will be the elixir that fixes this. Go earlier, and the West Coast takes a hit. Go later, the East Coast suffers. You’re just trying to capture as much of the audience as you can.”

On the business side, TKO has plenty on its plate. WWE’s Raw is roughly nine months into its Netflix run. UFC will shift to CBS and Paramount+ in January. Zuffa Boxing launches in 2026 with 12–16 fights annually, plus a handful of global “super fights.” And IMG—which TKO recently acquired—is overseeing media deals for UFC’s international rights, which TKO chose not to sell as part of one large package in tandem with its U.S. rights.

“We have about 150 different deals around the world with various countries and territories, and roughly a third of those come up for expiration per year,” Shapiro tells FOS

That is the thesis for why TKO acquired IMG, he says. “They are the best in the industry when it comes to media distribution.”

If TKO didn’t have IMG in its portfolio, the company might have done an overall global deal for UFC’s media rights. “Netflix was certainly interested in a global deal, and various other platforms were too,” he says.

But with IMG, TKO knew there were better ways to monetize and build its audience than simply selling global media rights to one partner.

“Whether it’s [Latin America], Brazil, Korea, or Australia, these deals are coming up, and we intend to maximize that,” he says. “There will be individual deals, and there will be some companies that want to buy four, five, or even 10 territories. We’re open for business.”

Meanwhile, the company has doubled its dividend and launched a $1 billion share repurchase program. “Our compass is guided by what’s best for long-term, sustainable growth,” Shapiro says.

That compass must point toward what’s best for shareholders. Despite President Trump’s recent push to shift reporting rules from required quarterly reports to twice yearly for public companies, Shapiro is focused on the fundamentals.

“Until anything changes, it’s business as usual,” he tells FOS. “We have quarterly earnings calls, we talk to analysts and investors daily, and we focus on being transparent—so they can understand what we are doing and model the long-term growth of this business. Reporting every quarter also helps us continue the narrative.”

Editors’ note: RedBird IMI, in which RedBird Capital Partners is a joint venture partner, is the primary investor in Front Office Sports.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (8) celebrates after making an interception during the game against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium.
exclusive

Big Ten Considering Investment From California Pension Fund

In the proposed deal, the Big Ten would spin off assets into a new entity.
NYSE

NYSE Owner Pours $2B Into Polymarket at $8B Valuation

Prediction markets keep pushing further into the mainstream.
Oct 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys outside linebacker Poasa Ute (35) and Wendell Gregory (4) celebrate during the third quarter of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.
exclusive

New Bill Aims to Prohibit Athletic Department, Conference Private-Equity Deals

The bill would bar schools from selling ownership stakes.
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans former quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (left) and Matt Leinart watch from the sidelines during the Pac-12 Championship game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium.

Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports Sued Over Alley Fight That Turned Bloody

The high-profile incident took place Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Ballers in Philadelphia
exclusive

Backer of SlamBall, Ballers Armed With $150M for New Fund

The fund will offer sports and entertainment companies deals that don’t involve equity.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), one of several premier sponsors for the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, as seen on Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., on March 14, 2024.
September 30, 2025

The Australian Soccer Player Running Saudi PIF’s SURJ Sports

SURJ Sports CEO Danny Townsend says there is “genuine commitment” to social change.
Blake Bortles appears set to exit Jacksonville with a career 24-49 record.
October 1, 2025

Private Equity’s Sports Push Has Entered Overdrive

Athletes like Blake Bortles and Rob Gronkowski are diving into sports investing.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
September 30, 2025

Jozy Altidore: Becoming an NFL Owner Is Like Going Back to School

Altidore owns stakes in the Bills and the NWSL’s Bay FC.
Sep 21, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams (18) completes a pass during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium.
September 25, 2025

Patriots Become Fourth NFL Team to Add Private-Equity Investor

The minority stake sales value the team at more than $9 billion.
Napoli Basketball
September 25, 2025

Napoli Basketball, Campobasso Owner Charts Conglomerate Plan

Matt Rizzetta’s new corporate entity will house multiple pro teams and real estate assets.
Shaedon Sharpe
September 24, 2025

RAJ Sports Sues Over Sale of Blazers Minority Stake

The Kings minority owners claim the Cherng Family Trust breached an agreement.