Streaming pioneer Netflix will be expanding on its live and sports offerings in the near future. The streaming giant has closed a deal to take “WWE Monday Night Raw” from its long-time host USA Network to Netflix starting in January 2025. The deal will also make them the home of WWE content outside of the US including live/premium events, documentaries, and original series.
“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE’s president. “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.”
As it currently stands, this is a around $5 billion 10-year deal, with an option to exit after 5 years. While the platform is built on the backs of on-demand content. It has dipped its toe into live media like a Chris Rock stand-up special, and the “Love Is Blind” reunions. This is a huge expansion considering Netflix will be streaming “Raw” live 52 Mondays a year in the US, Canada, UK, and Latin America. There are even plans to add more territories over time.
This deal also benefits WWE’s owner, TKO, which has been on the hunt for a new home or streaming partner. “This deal is transformative,” TKO president and COO Mark Shapiro said. “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.”
“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” adds Netflix chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. “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.”
This may be a way to streamline where WWE programming is offered. As it stands USA Network has “Raw,” Fox has “Smackdown,” and premium events like Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania stream on Peacock.
Under this new arrangement, USA will take over “Smackdown” later this year, The CW will get “NXT,” and for now Peacock will be keeping premium events in the US.
