According to a new report from the New York Post, WWE’s exclusive media rights negotiation windows with NBCUniversal and FOX have now expired.
This allows WWE to now engage in discussions with other potential media partners for Raw and SmackDown. The current TV contracts for both shows expire at the end of 2024.
According to the report, there is interest from Amazon and Disney. It is being said that with Disney, FX could be a potential landing spot as opposed to ESPN. FX is more logical as ESPN cannot promise a weeknight for WWE. Per the report, ESPN has too many game obligations to just declare “Mondays as WWE days.”
Amazon will also be in talks to acquire Raw and SmackDown. Should a deal be done, this would then see both Raw and SmackDown would move from cable to a streaming platform for the first- time ever. It was also noted in the report that Amazon has demonstrated how much they are willing to spend for huge stand-alone events such as “Thursday Night Football,” costing a billion dollars annually.
The report also lists Apple and Warner Bros. Discovery as “Dark Horse” suitors. WBD is, of course, the media partner of AEW in the United States.
These media rights discussions come as UFC’s parent company Endeavor is acquiring majority ownership of WWE. The merger will see WWE and UFC under one corporate umbrella as TKO Group.
Secondary source: Fightful