WWE CEO Nick Khan is in talks with networks for the next set of media rights deals for Raw and SmackDown ahead of those contracts with USA Network and FOX expiring next year.
Because WWE is out of its exclusive negotiations window with the two broadcasters, it allows them to remain in talks and speak with other networks.
As previously reported, Disney has shown interest in WWE programming for FX instead of ESPN. The reason for that is ESPN can’t “guarantee a specific night of the week due to their rotating slate of games” as they have deals with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and other sports leagues. Amazon Prime and Warner Bros. Discovery are other potential bidders.
While appearing on Sports Media with Richard Deitsch, Burke Magnus, ESPN’s President of Content, was asked how ESPN feels about its relationship with WWE.
Burke stated that their view on WWE changed a few years ago and if WWE’s rights are available, then it’s a possibility.
“It wouldn’t be a pod with you without
a WWE question so I do appreciate that. By the way, I’m overdue, I’m overdue to go to an event. I haven’t been in a little while but… yes, yes (he jokingly responded when it was mentioned that Nick Khan could get him tickets). I think it continues to be — I guess from a glass half-full perspective, I’d say I believe our companies — and this changed a couple of years ago so this is not breaking news but I believe our point of view towards WWE as a potential distribution outlet for their events, I think we passed that a long time ago and I think we’re now in the bucket of, hey, if their rights are available and there’s a deal for us that works and a deal for them that works with us, I think it’s certainly a possibility. There’s no hesitation anymore from a brand perspective or from a live event versus scripted. Their fans and our viewers, there’s tremendous overlap so, to me, it’s just about the business of it and is there something that works. I may have said this to you last time we talked but, to their credit, they run a 52-week-a-year business, right?… And I’m thinking, well, let me start from the linear perspective. 52 weeks a year is impossible for us to do on almost any configuration based on the other rights that we have. So that actually cuts against us from a linear perspective but on the digital side, if we were to be in business with them on a streaming or direct-to-consumer or distribution or a pay-per-view distribution or other such thing, I think that’s more easily achievable and they have a great product… Well I’m not (talking to WWE). So, I’ll just leave it at that.”
H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription
