ESPN have announced a BILLION-DOLLAR streaming deal with the WWE.
ESPN’s parent company, Disney, have struck a $1.6BILLION agreement with the wrestling powerhouse for their premium events.
The broadcaster have acquired the rights for the promotion’s premium events[/caption]
Disney will pay the WWE an average of £325million a year for the next five years for the broadcasting rights for the promotion’s annual premium events, which were previously on NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
That includes Wrestlemania, the Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, the latter of which took place last weekend.
The blockbuster deal, which will see WWE’s top-tier events air on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service, will commence in 2026.
ESPN are over the moon with the partnership and are excited about their future with the WWE.
Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said: “WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform.
“This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
The TKO Group, the WWE’s parent company, is equally as excited by the partnership.
President and COO Mark Shapiro said: “We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey.
“WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN.
“Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be.
“And we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”
ESPN will launch its brand-spanking-new streaming service on August 21.
‘lt will be priced at $29.99 a month and permit users to access all seven of the broadcaster’s domestic linear networks.
ESPN on ABC and other streaming options will also be accessible through the service.
News of ESPN’s deal with the WWE comes hot on the heels of their acquisition of the NFL Network.
The deal, which will see ESPN also acquire additional NFL assets, will see the NFL gain a ten per cent stake in the company.
