PWInsider is reporting that Puck, which is a subscription-based sports and entertainment news publication, says that Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav is starting to spend money, which includes revenue towards AEW, after the network saved up revenue for bid to keep the NBA, which fell through.
Puck also notes AEW’s new media rights deal with WBD is “close to finalizing a package” and that a formal announcement “could come as soon as next week, barring any last-minute challenges.” It was further stated that the new deal between the two sides “looks like it will be a four-year deal, with three years guaranteed, plus an option with AEW broadcasts airing on “TNT, TBS and TruTV.”
Furthermore, Puck indicated that AEW programming will air “twice a week” but did not provide any explanation of what that means, or if there is going to be any changed to the AEW programming lineup that is currently on TBS and TNT.
Puck concluded by citing that a $170 million per year number is “apparently in the ballpark” and that “AEW is also pitching another package, primarily to broadcast channels.” There were no details on if the new media rights deal will include AEW pay-per-view event on WBD’s Max streaming platform.
PWInsider notes they reached out to AEW for comment and will provide an update if they respond.
According to a previous report by ESPN, Warner Bros Discovery lost their bid for the NBA, as the league signed an 11-year media rights deal with Disney (ESPN), NBC and Amazon Prime Video that runs from the 2025-26 season through the 2025-26 season.
Warner Bros. Discovery had matched Amazon’s offer at $1.8 billion per year, but the league declined the network’s offer, ending a nearly four-decade run on the Turner Networks that began back with the 1984-85 season.