The upcoming UFC White House card is still in the planning phase with Dana White previously stated that he hoped to announce the card sometime during UFC 326 fight week.
Beyond the fights that are scheduled to take place on the south lawn of the White House, the UFC is still figuring out broadcast plans for the event as well. TKO Group Holdings executives and White have both teased the historic card airing on Paramount+ but there’s also been rumors that all or at least part of the show could air on CBS.
On Monday, TKO president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro admitted that the broadcast plans still aren’t set in stone, although he believes CBS should be involved given the magnitude of the event.
“[To be determined] on that,” Shapiro said during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. “I know Dana had mentioned he thought CBS might have a role to play there. I think from a news perspective, CBS should be there.
“This is news event. This is a cultural event. This is going to be something, right? Right there on the south lawn. We’re still putting our fight card together but the president is and has always been a huge UFC fan and we’re excited to be part of the 250th America celebration.”
While Paramount+ currently has just over 79 million subscribers, putting a UFC event on CBS obviously reaches a much wider audience for network television.
UFC 326 on Saturday actually serves as the first event to be simulcast on CBS with two hours of fights airing on the network from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET with the final few fights including the main event shifting back to Paramount+ exclusively.
It’s possible the UFC does something similar for the White House card to drive viewership towards Paramount+ but then again given the interest in the event, airing the entire show on CBS could potentially produce monster ratings.
The card is expected to feature six to seven fights and the event takes place on a Sunday night, which is a rarity for the UFC.
If White follows through with his announcement for the fight card, it’s possible the UFC White House broadcast plans are also confirmed but as of now Shapiro says nothing is settled yet.
