WWE and ESPN are about to enter a brand-new era.
A reported billion-dollar deal has given the Walt Disney Company subsidiary exclusive U.S. rights to WWE‘s Premium Live Events.
The multi-year deal, which will begin in 2026, includes the American streaming rights to all of the wrestling giant’s two-night events.
This not only includes WrestleMania and SummerSlam, but the rest of the WWE’s premium live events, such as the Royal Rumble, as well.
The five-year deal is valued at over $1.6 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal, with ESPN paying $325 million a year for the rights.
The report adds that it represents a significant increase from the WWE’s current contract with Peacock, which was valued at $900m.
“WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said.
“This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
As part of the deal, all of WWE’s pre-and post-event shows for all of their PLEs will also be available to be streamed on ESPN.
“We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey,” Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO, which owns WWE, said in a statement.
He continued: “WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN.
“Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”
What about WWE’s Netflix deal?
In January, Netflix became the exclusive home of Monday Night Raw in the US, Canada and the UK, among other territories.
The package was part of a mega $5billion 10-year deal to become the new home of all things wrestling – at least, for fans in the UK.
Netflix remains the home of the red brand worldwide and will continue to stream marquee WWE events outside the U.S.
Meanwhile, Peacock streamed all PPV events, including WrestleMania 41, but their five-year contract will now officially end next year.
SmackDown, which airs Fridays on USA Network, will not be affected by the ESPN deal and will continue to stream on Peacock until 2029.
What does WWE’s ESPN deal mean?
All 10 of WWE’s PLEs each year will stream on ESPN’s new $29.99 per month direct-to-consumer platform that debuts on August 21.
Select events will also be simulcast on ESPN’s cable channels.
ESPN already had a working relationship with WWE’s parent company, TKO – streaming UFC as part of a $300m-a-year deal.
Following the announcement of the merger, WWE’s chief content officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, said WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series will be ‘bigger than ever‘.
“What we consider the worldwide leader in sports entertainment to be with the worldwide leader in sports — and entertainment — ESPN, there’s nothing bigger, there’s no bigger opportunity than this for us right now,” Levesque said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ on Wednesday.
“To be in the Disney family, so to speak, we’re thrilled and can’t wait to get rolling.”