On John Arezzi’s Pro Wrestling Spotlight podcast, there was a conversation about Warner Bros. Discovery running AEW ads during sports programming. Many ads have been airing during TBS’ coverage of the MLB Playoffs.
Pro Wrestling Spotlight co-host Bob Smith wondered about the strategy to include footage of people going through tables and Chris Jericho attacking ring announcers. Arezzi said he’s heard that Warner Bros. Discovery is very happy with the product and the ads are part of a strategy.
“They’re trying to make it a sport,” Arezzi said. “That’s what the strategy is. The strategy is that they are pushing AEW into the sports category, not the entertainment category. They’re increasing that because of the new ownership because Warner Bros. is now Warner Bros. Discovery.”
Arezzi continued, “Everything I hear of what’s going on even with TNT, it’s gonna be turning into a more sports-centric network. So they are now putting their resources behind these promo announcements to increase ratings. So whether or not they’re tasteful in regards to the violence and the blood, there’s a method to the madness.”
“I’m privy to a lot of insider conversations at least on the Warner Bros. Discovery side. I have a lot of people there in very high executive positions that I’ve known for many years that I worked for when I was in television here in Nashville. The same people who are now the leaders of Warner Bros. Discovery on the ad sales front. They see this property, AEW, as someone they want to be in business with long-term. They had a contract which was absorbed by them when they merged that wasn’t the sweetest deal for TNT and TBS. It was kind of one-sided. So now what they are trying to do is to kind of collaborate and work together so they can work on the next long-term deal with them. I can’t get into it too much but there’s a lot of faith behind the AEW product right now from the folks at Warner Bros. Discovery.”
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If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Pro Wrestling Spotlight podcast with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
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— John Arezzi (@JohnArezzi) October 21, 2022
Check out the #AEWDynamite ad on the backstop during the Guardians-Yankees game. Looking good. pic.twitter.com/Ynghf64FzR
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) October 14, 2022
