UFC Freedom 250 draws average of 7 million viewers in U.S., breaks Paramount+ record
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House attracted an average of 7 million U.S. viewers on Paramount+, making it the most-watched live event exclusively on the streaming network.
- The event took place on the South Lawn with limited seating, including President Donald Trump among the audience, and featured a seven-fight card headlined by Justin Gaethje winning the lightweight championship.
- Despite some criticism about absent stars and matchups, the event was praised for its exciting fights, unique setting, and strong overall production.
- Nielsen’s viewership data counted anyone aged 2 or older who watched at least one minute of the broadcast, highlighting the broad reach of the event.
- For comparison, Netflix’s earlier MMA event featuring Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano drew 9.3 million viewers in the U.S., according to VideoAmp data.
