The NFL has reportedly already grown frustrated with NBC over its new media rights agreement with the NBA. Under that deal, NBC will pay the NBA approximately $2.45 billion annually, while the NFL reportedly receives around $2 billion per year from the network. The disparity reportedly prompted the NFL to explore opt-out provisions that could allow it to seek new bids for Sunday Night Football.
Now, another lucrative broadcast agreement involving one of the league’s media partners appears to have drawn the NFL’s attention.
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This time, the controversy centers on the UFC’s multibillion-dollar media rights deal. UFC president Dana White suggested that NFL executives reacted strongly when the mixed martial arts promotion announced its seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcasting agreement with Paramount. According to White, there is little doubt about how the league viewed the deal.
Nov 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of CBS Sports NFL today broadcast before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
“I don’t know this to be true, but I fucking guarantee you it is,” White said.
“The day we announced that we did a $7.7 billion deal, the executives at the NFL said, ‘How the f— did we not get this money, and how did we not know that kind of money was sitting over [there]?’”
A league of its own?
Paramount, of course, is the parent company of CBS. The NFL’s current agreement with CBS is worth approximately $2.1 billion annually. That means two major sports properties, the NBA and UFC, have now secured lucrative deals with companies that also do business with the NFL, despite the league continuing to dominate both in viewership.
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As a $13 billion enterprise, the NFL has shown little willingness to leave money on the table when negotiating media rights agreements.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; From left: Los Angeles Rams president Kevin Demoff, NFL executive vice president of club business, league events and international Peter O’Reilly, Victoria minister for tourism, sport and major events Steve Dimopoulos and NFL Australia and New Zealand general manager Charlotte Offord pose at the NFL International press conference to announce the 2026 Melbourne Game at the Super Bowl LIX Media Center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
With White’s comments adding another wrinkle to the conversation, and given the league’s reported reaction to NBC’s NBA deal, the question becomes whether another round of negotiations could be on the horizon. The NFL’s broadcasting practices are already facing scrutiny from the U.S. government, but the league’s continued global expansion could further strengthen its leverage.
The growth of the NFL’s international series highlights the league’s increasing worldwide appeal. As the sport attracts more fans abroad, streaming-focused media packages may become even more valuable and necessary.
It will be interesting to see how ongoing hearings unfold and how the NFL responds. The outcome could significantly influence the league’s future approach to media rights negotiations and its relationships with broadcast partners.
Will the NFL successfully pressure CBS and NBC into renegotiating their current deals?