UFC had the wind at its back in the third quarter with a string of sellout events that pushed revenue and adjusted earnings for the league’s parent company, TKO, to new heights.
\n\nUFC delivered double-digit gains in the quarter across all key measures. Revenue climbed 60% year-over-year to $519.2 million, thanks to a $132.3 million increase in media rights, production and content revenue. Live events and hospitality revenue spiked by $36 million, in addition to a $20.5 million increase in partnerships and marketing revenue and a $5.2 million boost in consumer products licensing and other revenue.
\n\nWWE, on the other hand, had a tougher quarter in part because there were three more events on the wrestling league’s main roster in the comparable year-ago quarter. Nevertheless, the full-year forecast for both UFC, WWE and IMG, which includes the On Location premium events business, which also had a strong quarter thanks to the influx of big-ticket events around the World Cup.
\n\n“Our third quarter performance reflects the secular tail winds powering live events and experiences around the world, and TKO’s assets sit front and center of that premium ecosystem,” said Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO. “As we close out what…
Original source: https://variety.com/v/tv/