WWE 2024 TV Deals?

[Majingir]

Apparently the exclusive window has expired for Comcast/Fox to negotiate with WWE for a new TV deal for Raw/SD.

Sounds like USA/Fox are still the faves to keep the shows, but you never know what could happen, especially with new owners in WWE and Nick Khan around now too (I believe he joined AFTER the last set of tv negotiations).

One report I just read is Disney having interest in terms of having a show on FX.

It's an outdated number, but FX had 89m subscribers in 2018 vs 90m from USA. I'd imagine both declined a similar amount since then, but still close to even (wouldn't be surprised if some subscribed to USA just for Raw).

I don't have an issue with the networks they're currently on, but who knows how much say the networks will have or will want to have on future programming or if anything even changes.

There were rumors of Raw going 14+ last summer (even TV Guide listings had them as 14+) but it just never happened. Maybe that was a plan they scrapped, maybe an intentional leak to see the reaction of fans on a possible change.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

Latest report says that Fox might not want to renew their deal with SD.

[UFCMPunk]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

Latest report says that Fox might not want to renew their deal with SD.

Honestly... I'd be fine if they got rid of FOX for someone new. I understood they couldn't do overruns because of local news but when Edge beat Sheamus in his last match and they just go off the air quick when it was the perfect time for a overrun if that is indeed Edge's final WWE match. That just annoyed me to no end because Edge deserved better.

I can see USA keeping RAW, wonder if NBC would want both RAW & SD with both on USA. I'd stay away from Disney if I were WWE. Disney is losing over $1.4B a year, they laid off a bunch of people, Disney pulled their networks from Spectrum and it seems that contract dispute is not ending anytime soon. That's a sinking ship WWE should stay away from.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

With SD back on USA, now the question is what happens with Raw/NXTs deals.

Raw I'd imagine stays on USA (don't think USA would pay for SD and not Raw), but NXT, perhaps that's the show that lands WWE a deal with Amazon or Netflix?

[UFCMPunk]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

WWE announces new TV deal for RAW and Smackdown to air in Japan.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-new-deal-japan/

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

WWE announces new TV deal for RAW and Smackdown to air in Japan.



https://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-a...ew-deal-japan/

The big story here is WWE never airing in Japan before on free tv, and now airing 12 hours after the US broadcast, with Japanese commentary.

That should be huge for them. Definitely see a PLE in Japan eventually with news like this now.

The deal begins soon...does Nakamura actually win the title!?

And they surely will have Iyo vs Asuka main event SD for the title on their debut episode in Japan right? Not some Bayley,Iyo vs Asuka,Charlotte for the sake of getting Charlotte more tv time?

[LibSuperstar]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

The big story here is WWE never airing in Japan before on free tv, and now airing 12 hours after the US broadcast, with Japanese commentary.

That should be huge for them. Definitely see a PLE in Japan eventually with news like this now.

The deal begins soon...does Nakamura actually win the title!?

And they surely will have Iyo vs Asuka main event SD for the title on their debut episode in Japan right? Not some Bayley,Iyo vs Asuka,Charlotte for the sake of getting Charlotte more tv time?

I imagine it would be Sky vs Asuka.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

One possibility mentioned regarding WWEs new deal in Japan is some sort of working deal with Pro Wrestling Noah

Not sure how active they are within the company, but there are some names WWE fans might recognize currently on that roster (according to Wikipedia) like Simon Gotch, Timothy Thatcher, Rene Dupree, Super Crazy. They also list RVD though so not sure how updated it is?

Raw and SD are the ones with the TV deal though, but don't think these guys (minus RVD if he's even part of them still) would really be notable to have representing that company if they show up on WWETV. At most maybe a one off if it's like some open challenge and one of those guys shows up, or any of their regular talents show up?

Or maybe we get another NXT Worlds Collide with a crossover in Japan?

[UFCMPunk]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

New report says WWE NXT is heading to the CW Network on a 5 year deal.

https://awfulannouncing.com/wwe/nxt-the-cw-media-rights-2024.html

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

New report says WWE NXT is heading to the CW Network on a 5 year deal.



https://awfulannouncing.com/wwe/nxt-...ghts-2024.html

Sounds like over 30m a year for NXT which would be huge for them. For a small developmental show filming out of the PC, that's not back that you're getting over 500k a week from your tv deal.

Wonder if the bigger budget could have them finding a different home again. Full Sail was such a good thing they had going, but the bittersweet part was the full sail crowds were great but not reflective of the raw/SD tv crowds.

Wonder what deal Raw gets. Don't think USA is "trading" Raw and NXT for SD.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

Sounds like we could hear about a deal soon.

HHH and Nick Khan were in LA meeting with networks negotiating for Raw.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

WBD seems to be in the middle of everything.

But also feels like WWE and AEW could be bargaining chips being used for the main goal, NBA rights.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

Warner Brothers could be merging with Paramount.

WWE and NBA definitely could be in the middle of rights battles.

WB/Paramount would be the likes of TNT,TBS,CBS while NBCU is NBC,Peacock and so on.

If NBA keeps a deal with WB, could it be games on TNT and CBS? And NBC in return not getting the NBA rights pivots to WWE/UFC, maybe Disney/ESPN/ABC jumps in if NBA moves off ABC in favor of CBS?

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

Amazon now latest rumored fave to get rights to Raw and it'll stay on Mondays.

Luckily this won't impact the Canadian rights because I'll hate the day something becomes streaming exclusive. If a shows streaming exclusive, that's not enough to encourage me to watch it unless I already have the service for other things already (like Disney plus).

I'm surprised they didn't get NXT to be a streaming exclusive/Amazon show to test the waters. Moving Raw off cable tv full time seems real risky.

[Majingir]

Re: WWE 2024 TV Deals?

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1749771466885706104?t=F0CRgPcpH6jN1fuPWvv-NQ&s=19

I don't like this at all.

So now you have to pay extra money to watch WWE?

Paying for the network, regular tv channels AND Netflix just to watch wwe?!

If it goes up on the network 24 hours after it airs on Netflix I'll be fine with that. But if Netflix is really the only way of watching...be prepared for viewership to really decline and people watching streams elsewhere to go up a lot.