Netflix has secured exclusive rights to air World Wrestling Entertainment’s weekly show "Raw" in a 10-year $5 billion deal with TKO Holdings, of which WWE is a subsidiary.
Netflix, which has more than 200 million subscribers to its on-demand film and TV content, is committing to deliver three hours of live wrestling every week from the coming year under the deal.
The streaming giant aims to attract millions of dedicated WWE fans, concurrently giving a significant boost to its emerging advertising-supported initiative. The move marks a first long-term rights agreement for the firm in the realm of live entertainment.
Raw, premiered in 1993, has amassed a total of 1,600 episodes to date, showcasing wrestling talents like Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, and Rhea Ripley, and acting as a launch pad for now Hollywood stars like Dwayne Johnson and John Cena.
The three-hour broadcast currently airs on the USA Network and has been a sought-after media rights asset.
Amid widespread speculation about potential networks or streaming platforms, the programme is highly regarded, being the most-watched among WWE's offerings with approximately 1.5 million viewers per episode.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria announcing the move in a statement said, "We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix."
Starting in January 2025, Raw will be available on Netflix in the US, Canada, Latin America, and other global markets, following the conclusion of WWE's domestic agreement with Comcast Corp.
Additionally, Netflix will become the sole destination outside the US for all WWE programmes and specials. Netflix subscribers will be able to watch these pay-per-view events at no extra charge.
"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," Bajaria said.
WWE is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings Inc.
"Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix," Mark Shapiro, TKO’s president, said in a statement.
WWE announced that its documentaries, original series, and upcoming projects will be accessible on Netflix globally, commencing in 2025.
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