The streaming platform’s first exclusive UFC event delivered impressive results that extended far beyond viewership numbers, signaling a successful start to a major seven-year partnership.
According to sources, Paramount+ welcomed approximately one million new subscribers following UFC 324, the platform’s inaugural exclusive mixed martial arts event held in Las Vegas. The milestone represents a significant boost for the service, which reported 79 million total subscribers at the end of September, still well behind market leader Netflix’s 325 million.
The event itself drew nearly 5 million average viewers on Saturday, establishing a new benchmark as the largest exclusive live event ever hosted on Paramount+.
David Ellison, in an internal memo to employees, celebrated the achievement while acknowledging that actual audience numbers likely exceeded reported figures.
“While we went into the weekend with high expectations, I’m thrilled to share that we exceeded them, reaching nearly 5 million streaming views, the largest-ever exclusive live event for Paramount+,” Ellison wrote. “And the actual audience was likely even higher, given how common co-viewing is among UFC fans.”
The main event featured Justin Gaethje’s victory over Paddy Pimblett in an interim lightweight title bout.
Paramount Global reported that UFC 324 reached 7.18 million global households and achieved a peak of 5.93 million concurrent viewers. These metrics, based on Nielsen data and Adobe Analytics, don’t account for co-viewing situations or delayed viewing.
According to Paramount Global, the event delivered the biggest household audience for a live UFC broadcast in nearly ten years across linear television, broadcast, and various platforms.
The company did not specify which previous UFC event held the prior record, though analysts suggest the strong performance benefited from the elimination of traditional pay-per-view fees, with the event included as part of a standard Paramount+ subscription.
The subscriber growth comes at a critical time for Paramount+ as it competes in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. The platform has previously hosted what it describes as “thousands” of exclusive live events, but UFC 324 clearly represents a different category of programming in terms of reach and impact.
Ellison’s memo emphasized the collaborative effort across all Paramount divisions. “Every single business unit, division and team, from Paramount+, Paramount Pictures and CBS to MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and Pluto, as well as Marketing, Social, Ad Sales, Technology, Events and more, came together, rolled up their sleeves and got creative,” he noted.
The successful launch stands in contrast to broader challenges facing combat sports in traditional television metrics. Recent analysis of 2025’s top 100 most-watched programs showed the UFC failed to secure a single appearance, despite the promotion’s exclusive broadcast partnership with ESPN.
Even the NBA Finals missed the list, drawing 16.6 million viewers for Game 7 but falling short of the 17.39 million threshold required for inclusion.
The partnership between Paramount and UFC extends beyond this single event, providing subscribers expanded access to all numbered UFC events and certain preliminary bouts across the United States, Latin America, and Australia.
For UFC, the Paramount+ partnership offers guaranteed distribution and promotional support across multiple media properties. Ellison mentioned that several executives from TKO and UFC expressed satisfaction with how the collaboration came together for the inaugural event.
The nearly one million new subscribers represent meaningful growth for Paramount+, though the platform still faces considerable ground to make up against competitors.
