Pro wrestling has evolved into a global phenomenon. Gone are the days when it was restricted to a particular age group or people from a certain area. The credit for making pro wrestling a worldwide sports entertainment industry goes to WWE. Now, in the new age, streaming services have been roped in as well. Currently amidst the rumors that WWE’s Raw might head to AEW’s current home, Warner Bros Discovery, a new speculation has emerged. And Tony Khan might be able to breathe a sigh of relief now.
WWE Raw’s new home predicted
According to a report by Sports Business Journal, WWE Raw’s new home could be an entity that is a direct competitor to Netflix, Peacock, and Warner Bros Discovery as well. It has been predicted that Raw could be acquired by Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video. In the speculation report, it was mentioned that Prime could pick up the brand and might not change the show’s already established time and day of broadcasting.
Apart from that, this might benefit WWE in another way. The streaming service has reportedly seen a spike in subscribers belonging to the young male demographic. This merger could help WWE attain a wider audience.
This deal could bring in a major change for the brand. Considering the current state of television, audiences usually find it comfortable to stream their shows. This deal could change how the show will be accessed by the audience.
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However, there is more. This deal could either make or break the red brand.
How this deal could affect Raw
WWE has been synonymous with cable television. Another reason for WWE’s success could be attributed to the fact that it is easily available. Therefore, WWE might be a little hesitant to hand over the streaming rights to a streaming platform. Currently, Comcast is paying $256 million to be able to broadcast the red brand on the USA Network. However, Prime Video might be willing to pay much more. Taking the example of Thursday Night Football, the streaming service was paying almost a billion dollars a year to stream the game.
However, there is another side to things. The deal is set to expire by October 2024. Fans are aware of the big merger between WWE and UFC that happened in September 2023. While UFC has been a mainstay of ESPN, Raw could soon find a way to ESPN as well. The probability of ESPN acquiring both UFC and Raw in a single deal could be a possibility. It all depends on whether Raw can strike a deal with a provider soon. Which streaming platform do you think Raw would be more suitable for?
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The post Netflix & Peacock’s Direct Competitor Predicted To Secure WWE Raw Programming Rights in Major Relief to Tony Khan’s AEW Amidst Hijack Rumors: Reports appeared first on EssentiallySports.
