In a recent development, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) has entered a new phase in its media rights negotiations.
The company’s exclusive negotiation window with NBCUniversal, the parent company of the USA Network, and FOX has expired, allowing them to explore potential deals with other networks. According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Disney has expressed interest in acquiring WWE programming for FX, as ESPN is unable to guarantee a specific night of the week due to its varied sports schedules.
Furthermore, Amazon Prime Video is expected to enter talks with WWE once it secures its NFL deal for Thursday night games. Amazon has previously shown interest in broadcasting college football’s Big Ten conference. Notably, Warner Bros. Discovery, which currently has a deal with the NBA, is considered a dark horse candidate alongside Apple due to their interest in sports programming.
Marchand points out that Warner Bros. Discovery’s existing partnership with AEW (All Elite Wrestling) does not restrict them from considering WWE. WWE CEO Nick Khan has previously praised Amazon and expressed the company’s willingness to switch SmackDown to a different night to accommodate potential partnerships.
We got some MAJOR TV rights updates for WWE to discuss today:
— Just Alyx (@JustAlyxCentral) June 12, 2023
The New York Post reports that WWE's exclusive media rights negotiation windows with NBCUniversal and FOX have expired with no new deal made. This allows them to engage in discussions with other potential media… pic.twitter.com/QUa79EzqUu
In 2019, WWE signed significant media rights deals, with Raw securing $265 million per year, while SmackDown garnered $205 million from FOX. As the expiration of the current media rights deals for Raw and SmackDown approaches next year, WWE is exploring various options to ensure the continued success and exposure of its programming.
While negotiations are ongoing, it remains to be seen which networks will secure the media rights for WWE’s flagship shows. Wrestling fans are eagerly awaiting further developments as WWE seeks to maximize its media rights value and reach a wider audience.
