TKO Group Holdings — the mixed firm with UFC and WWE — posted one other sturdy quarter to shut out 2024 together with an important 12 months total regardless of agreeing to pay $375 million to settle one of many two antitrust lawsuits filed towards the UFC.
In a monetary disclosure printed on Wednesday, TKO reported income of $642.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and total income of $2.804 billion for the 12 months. Web revenue for the fourth quarter was $47.5 million with a web revenue of $6.4 million for the 12 months.
The fourth quarter outcomes elevated 5 % 12 months over 12 months with the bulk owed to continued progress at UFC with a further $61.1 million of income to $343.8 million, which helped offset a lower of $32.9 million at WWE. The lower at WWE was primarily because of the timing of the transition of the corporate’s flagship present Monday Evening Uncooked going from USA Community to Netflix.
These numbers are anticipated to dramatically shift transferring ahead after WWE inked a large 10-year, $5 billion take care of Netflix that kicked off in January.
For the total 12 months, income at TKO elevated 67 % to $2.804 billion, which was mirrored by a rise of $1.015 billion at WWE and a rise of $114 million at UFC.
The online revenue for the 12 months was $6.4 million, which is a lower of $169.3 million from the earlier 12 months. The lower was largely affected by the $375 million paid to settle the UFC antitrust lawsuit.
Within the monetary disclosure, TKO famous that the corporate made an preliminary $125 million cost together with a second $125 million cost in direction of that settlement made in February. The third and ultimate cost of $125 million is anticipated to be made within the second quarter of 2025.
With 2024 performed, TKO is poised for a large 12 months in 2025 with a pair of very profitable broadcast offers developing for the corporate.
At UFC, the promotion’s take care of ESPN involves an finish in 2025 with the corporate at the moment in an unique negotiating window with the Disney-owned community about doubtlessly extending the deal. The unique window closes in April, which then opens up the bidding for different potential suitors with rumors swirling that quite a few networks and streaming providers may become involved with the UFC reportedly searching for greater than $1 billion per 12 months as a part of a brand new broadcast deal.
Whereas most likely not fairly as sizable, the WWE additionally has an necessary 12 months forward with the rights to the corporate’s premium stay occasions — playing cards like WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble — developing for bidding with the present deal at the moment at Peacock.
TKO revealed focused income for 2025 at $2.930 billion to $3 billion.
“TKO delivered document monetary efficiency in 2024 at each UFC and WWE, reflecting the power of our [intellectual property], the dynamic audiences we serve, and the industry-best crew of individuals we’ve assembled,” TKO CEO and government chairman Ari Emanuel stated in a press launch.
“Within the 12 months forward, we might be targeted on securing long-term U.S. home media rights agreements for UFC in addition to WWE’s Premium Stay Occasions; integrating IMG, On Location, and Skilled Bull Riders into our portfolio; creating much more compelling stay occasions; and executing our strong capital return program for shareholders.”
TKO inventory has continued to develop with buying and selling up 2.26 % on Wednesday with shares at $159.55 at the moment