TKO Group Reports Strong Q2 Earnings Following Major WWE-ESPN Deal
TKO Group Holdings revealed impressive Q2 earnings, showcasing substantial growth across its portfolio, particularly in live events and partnerships. This announcement comes just hours after securing a landmark $1.6 billion deal with ESPN for WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) rights in the United States.
Q2 Financial Highlights
The company reported exceptional financial performance with:
- Revenue of $1.31 billion (10% increase year-over-year)
- Net income of $273.1 million (up from $46.2 million)
- Adjusted EBITDA of $526.5 million (75% increase)
UFC and WWE Performance
Both major divisions demonstrated significant growth:
UFC Results
- Revenue: $415.9 million (5% increase)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $244.8 million (6% increase)
WWE Results
- Revenue: $556.2 million (22% increase)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $329.8 million (31% increase)
Strategic Partnership Developments
TKO president and COO Mark Shapiro emphasized the company’s strategic approach to partnerships, noting that while they could have secured higher rights fees elsewhere, the ESPN partnership offered superior brand strength and audience reach. The company is also in the “home stretch” of UFC rights negotiations.
Updated Financial Guidance
TKO has raised its annual guidance to:
- Revenue: $4.630 billion – $4.690 billion
- Adjusted EBITDA: $1.540 billion – $1.560 billion
Executive Perspectives
Ariel Emanuel, CEO of TKO, highlighted the company’s strong performance in live content and experiences, noting their significance in today’s experience-driven economy and sports marketplace. Meanwhile, Mark Shapiro emphasized the historic nature of the ESPN partnership and outlined key focus areas for the latter half of 2025, including UFC media rights negotiations and integration of IMG, On Location, and PBR into TKO.