The future of the vast WWE video library and NXT Premium Live Events is becoming clearer as the company approaches the end of its current domestic streaming deal. Since 2021, the WWE library has been housed on Peacock in the United States, but that five-year agreement is set to expire at the start of 2026. While speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro provided an update on the status of these assets.
Regarding the WWE library, Shapiro indicated that the company is moving towards a distribution model that may not be tied to a single platform. He stated that they are “working on a non-exclusive deal at the moment” and he thinks WWE will have “something to announce” in the first quarter of 2026. This shift aligns with a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter regarding how the archives may be split up.
Potential Homes for WWE Archives
Dave Meltzer reported, “The talk right now is the old territories video library would be uploaded on YouTube slowly. Some of the content such as Smackdown archives as well as Saturday Night’s Main Events would stay on Peacock. Old Raws may go to Netflix, which has uploaded them internationally, but far from complete libraries.”
Shapiro also addressed the status of NXT Premium Live Events, which currently air on Peacock. Unlike the main roster PLEs, which are moving to ESPN domestically starting in 2026, the home for the developmental brand’s major shows remains undecided. He stated that they are not in any rush as they have a lot on their plate right now and want to be “deliberate and thoughtful” about the process. The deal with Peacock to carry NXT PLEs expires in March.
Interestingly, Shapiro floated a potential new partner depending on corporate mergers in the media landscape. “If Paramount can get WBD, I like a world where we could potentially live on HBO or TNT,” Shapiro said, noting they are sports destinations fans are used to. These comments come amidst a massive restructuring of WWE’s media rights, with the company having already secured deals with ESPN for main roster PLEs and Netflix for Raw.
