Tony Khan says AEW fans spend more on streaming video per month than the fans of any other sports league in the world, including the NFL, NBA, and WWE. Speaking on TMZ Inside The Ring ahead of AEW Revolution, Khan said the data point came to light during AEW’s TV renewal negotiations.
“Of all the sports leagues in the world, including the NFL, the MLB, NBA, UFC, PGA, WWE, WTA, the sports league that has the highest spend on streaming video per month of their fans, of all the sports leagues in the world, is AEW,” Khan said.
Khan said the finding surprised him and represented one of many new data points he learned about the AEW fanbase during the renewal process. The revelation points to a notably engaged and financially committed viewer base for a promotion that launched in 2019 and operates as the primary alternative to WWE on the national wrestling landscape.
AEW programming currently airs every Wednesday night on TBS and every Saturday night on TNT, with all shows streaming on HBO Max. Khan said the streaming numbers reflect a broader pattern of growth across the company. “Our viewership is very strong,” Khan said. “The live audiences are so enthusiastic. Our sales are up. We’re having a great year.”
Khan also pointed to AEW’s awards haul as further evidence of the promotion’s momentum. AEW took home Pro Wrestling Promotion of the Year from Sports Illustrated for 2025. Multiple AEW events were named best wrestling show of the year by major publications, including ESPN, Yahoo, the New York Post, Fightful, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, and the Wrestling Observer.
Khan noted that the recognition was spread across several events rather than a single standout show. “It wasn’t just one event that won best show of the year,” Khan said. “We had multiple events last year that claimed awards for best wrestling event of the year. AEW Revolution, AEW Double or Nothing, and AEW All In, and I think that speaks to the quality in our TV shows.”
Khan also addressed AEW Dynamite’s track record on weekly television. “AEW Dynamite has been a pick for the best wrestling show, week in, week out for seven straight years now,” Khan said. AEW Dynamite holds the distinction of being the longest-running prime time professional wrestling show in the history of TNT and TBS, a milestone Khan said carries personal significance given that he grew up watching wrestling on both networks.
The streaming figures also reflect a shift in how AEW fans consume content. Khan noted during the interview that at least one of the TMZ hosts watches AEW exclusively through HBO Max rather than via cable, a viewing pattern Khan said is increasingly common among the fanbase.
With AEW available across cable, satellite, and streaming platforms, the promotion has positioned itself to capture fans across multiple viewing habits, with the HBO Max subscription offering what Khan described as the best value for regular viewers. AEW Revolution takes place tonight at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
