Netflix has struck a deal with WWE to move ‘Monday Night Raw’ to the streaming platform beginning in 2025 for $500 million per year.
The deal is valued at $5 billion over 10 years, making it one of the most significant sports rights deals in history. The agreement marks a shift for fans, who will now have to subscribe to Netflix to watch the weekly program, in addition to their Peacock subscription for WWE paid live events.
The deal also includes the rights to WWE’s other weekly shows, SmackDown and NXT, as well as major showcases like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble.
Netflix will also stream WWE documentaries, original series, and forthcoming projects outside the U.S
WWE’s ‘Smackdown’ to Move From Fox to USA Network in New Rights Deal
WWE’s “SmackDown” is set to make a return to the USA Network in a new five-year rights deal. The current Fox deal for the weekly show expires in October 2024, after which it will move to USA Network. “SmackDown” initially aired on Fox in 2019 as part of a five-year agreement, and it had previously been on USA Network from 2016 to 2019, with earlier stints on Syfy, The CW, UPN, and MyNetworkTV.
While the financial details of the new deal were not disclosed, sources indicate it’s valued at around $1.4 billion, an increase from the $1 billion Fox paid in 2019. As part of this agreement, WWE will produce four primetime specials per year for NBC, marking the first time WWE will air in primetime on the network. The exact format of these specials, whether featuring live wrestling or having a more documentary focus like WWE’s programming on A&E, is yet to be determined.
WWE President Nick Khan expressed excitement about extending the relationship with NBCUniversal, stating, “NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades.” The deal secures “SmackDown” on USA Network for Friday nights, and the addition of primetime specials on NBC adds another dimension to the partnership.
While “SmackDown’s” future is now confirmed, there is no information on where “Monday Night Raw” will land. Currently airing on USA Network, along with WWE’s NXT, there is serious interest from various platforms, but as of now, no deal has been finalized. The other two shows are not expected to continue on USA Network, according to sources.
Frances Berwick, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership, saying, “It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE.” With the Friday night slot on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and WWE content on Peacock, NBCUniversal aims to cater to the passionate WWE fanbase.
Since 2021, NBCUniversal’s Peacock has been the exclusive streaming home for the WWE Network, featuring a vast library of wrestling shows and hosting major events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.
WWE recently underwent a merger with UFC under the ownership of Endeavor, forming the new company TKO Group. Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, now serves as the executive chairman of TKO Group, owning a significant stake in the new entity. McMahon returned to the company in 2023 after stepping down as CEO in 2022 amid an investigation into alleged hush-money payments related to accusations of sexual misconduct.
About WWE
The history of WWE can be traced back to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) in the 1950s, which was founded by Jess McMahon and Vincent J. McMahon.
The company was known as the WWE, but it also held the names Word-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) before becoming World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002.
The WWE has promoted some of the most successful wrestlers and storylines, and it is the largest pro wrestling promotion in the world. The WWE can be divided into eras, including the ’80s Boom, the Dawn of WrestleMania, the New Generation, the Attitude Era, the Postwar Era, and the Modern Era.
The Attitude Era, which lasted from 1996 to 2001, is considered one of the most popular and successful eras in WWE history. The WWE has undergone several name changes throughout the years, and it has branded itself solely as WWE since 2011