TKO President Mark Shapiro Supports Both Paramount And Netflix In WBD Merger Battle

Core Insights - TKO Group reported a 12% increase in revenue to over $1 billion and achieved a net profit in a mixed quarter, with CEO Ari Emanuel noting significant momentum in both UFC and WWE [1] - UFC sales increased by 17% to $401 million, with profits rising 20% to $213 million, while WWE profits jumped 44% to $165 million on a 21% revenue increase to $360 million [2][3] - TKO is forecasting full-year revenue between $5.675 billion and $5.775 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $2.24 billion and $2.29 billion, both higher than previous estimates [7] TKO Group Performance - The IMG segment experienced a decline in sales to $248 million, while TKO is managing premium hospitality and logistics for the FIFA World Cup 2026 [4] - Free cash flow increased to $1.16 billion, up by $691 million, although expenses also rose [4] Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook - TKO has established long-term media rights agreements, including a significant seven-year deal with Paramount worth an average of $1.1 billion annually for UFC events starting in 2026, and a landmark rights deal with Netflix for WWE's Monday Night Raw in 2024 [6] - The company is positioned for long-term growth with operational strength and plans to initiate the next phase of its capital return program to deliver sustainable value for shareholders [5]