WWE’s current media rights deals went into place in the fall of 2019, with Raw staying on the USA Network while SmackDown went to FOX. The next set of media rights deals for Raw and SmackDown expire next year.
New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reported today that WWE is out of its exclusive negotiations window with NBCUniversal (the parent company of the USA Network) and FOX about renewing its media rights deals with the companies, allowing them to remain in talks and speak with other networks.
Disney has shown interest in WWE programming for FX instead of ESPN because 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 Video is also expected to be in talks with WWE, a move they will make after locking down their NFL deal for Thursday night games. They also previously put in bids for college football’s Big Ten conference.
There was an interesting note regarding AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery as Marchand considers Apple and Warner Bros. Discovery as candidates, albeit dark horses, due to their interest in the NBA. WBD currently has a deal with the sports league.
He did add, “One nugget I was told that may interest wrestling fans is that Warner Bros. Discovery does not have to stay exclusive to AEW. It would be something if it got in on WWE. But I don’t see it yet.”
WWE CEO Nick Khan has praised Amazon in the past and noted they would be willing to switch to a different night for SmackDown.
WWE signed big money deals in 2019 as Raw’s deal was for $265 million per year, while FOX paid $205 million for SmackDown.
Why FX is a contender for WWE’s broadcast rights https://t.co/QbpvtUxQMj pic.twitter.com/Whpb63xf4K
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 12, 2023
