Welcome to the streaming period of the wrestling wars. WWE’s flagship weekly present, Uncooked, is ditching cable and headed for Netflix in January. And immediately, Warner Bros. Discovery and All Elite Wrestling announced a multiyear rights extension that can deliver AEW content material to Max beginning in… you guessed it… January 2025. The information was first reported by Variety.
Tony Khan’s wrestling promotion will achieve a big presence on the favored streaming service. Episodes of AEW’s weekly reveals, Dynamite and Collision, will simulcast on Max on Wednesday and Saturday nights along with airing on TBS and TNT, respectively. Previous episodes may even be accessible to observe on demand. AEW’s TV programming has aired on WBD networks from the very begin, so the migration to Max has been a very long time coming.
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Photograph by Chris Welch / The Verge
“This extension continues the custom of iconic wrestling occasions broadcast on TBS and TNT, whereas additionally establishing a brand new legacy for AEW via weekly reside streams on Max for years to come back,” Khan stated in an announcement.
Additionally starting subsequent 12 months, AEW’s pay-per-view occasions will probably be supplied to Max subscribers at a reduced charge. That’s a notable distinction from WWE’s present mannequin within the US, which lets followers stream premium reside occasions as a part of a regular Peacock subscription with out paying something additional. But it surely appears AEW isn’t prepared to surrender the income it brings in from standalone occasion purchases. It’s not but recognized what the low cost will probably be; AEW says extra particulars will probably be shared “within the coming months.”
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Photograph by Chris Welch / The Verge
Till now, AEW followers have needed to buy pay-per-views from a hodgepodge of lesser-known providers together with Bleacher Report and TrillerTV — or instantly from a cable / satellite tv for pc supplier. Not too long ago, YouTube additionally started providing the occasions. However with the brand new association, AEW says “all advertising and promotions of these PPV occasions [will be] solely centered on Max.”
The brand new rights deal, which totals round $150 million per 12 months based on Selection’s sources, is yet one more instance of the demand that streamers have for reside sports activities and sports-adjacent content material. Warner Bros. Discovery is making ready to launch Venu Sports activities, which has been dubbed the ultimate sports streaming service with companions Disney and Fox later this 12 months for $42.99 per thirty days.
