The professional wrestling federation and part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc., World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has inked a long-term partnership with the American OTT content platform, Netflix.
This agreement will bring WWE’s flagship weekly programme, Raw, to the world’s biggest entertainment network. This also constitutes a significant programming transition as Raw leaves linear television for the first time since its beginning 31 years ago.
The rights contract, which cost more than $5 billion, will last ten years. Netflix will be the sole new home of Raw in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America from January 2025. Other countries and regions will be added gradually.
Moreover, in line with the arrangement, Netflix will also house all WWE programming that is made available outside of the United States, including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, in addition to the company’s Premium Live Events, which include WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. Commencing in 2025, Netflix will also provide WWE’s documentaries, original shows, and upcoming projects to viewers worldwide.
Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO, said, “This deal is transformative. It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”
Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, commented, “We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix. By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”
Nick Khan, WWE President, said, “In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling. We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base.”
Raw is the most recognisable programme in sports entertainment, having produced 1,600 episodes to date. 52 weeks a year since its 1993 premiere, Raw has featured action, gripping drama, and unparalleled athleticism. The three-hour programme, which combines the finest of live entertainment with written content, has been instrumental in launching the careers of many, such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, and Charlotte Flair.
The show is presently the most popular on the USA Network, attracting 17.5 million unique viewers per year. Raw ranks as one of television’s best-performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, with new episodes running 52 weeks a year. WWE has over a billion social media followers throughout all platforms.