Starting in January 2025, WWE’s flagship program, Monday Night RAW, will make the groundbreaking move of moving to the industry-leading streaming platform, Netflix.
This deal, reportedly valued at a staggering $5 billion over ten years, places the streaming platform at the forefront of streaming live sports entertainment, a domain traditionally dominated by network and cable television.
Netflix’s acquisition of RAW is part of the company’s broader strategy to diversify and enhance its content offerings. This move brings the high-energy action of WWE to a wider global audience but also signals a new era in the distribution of live sports content. With RAW airing exclusively in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Latin America on Netflix, and plans to expand into other territories later on, the reach of WWE’s premier show is set to grow exponentially.
WWE Raw is coming to Netflix!
Starting in January 2025, @Netflix will exclusively stream #WWERaw (in the US, Canada, UK, & Latin America) every single week, all year long! https://t.co/SOSACjfp7w pic.twitter.com/lTdSXMep9K
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2024
The deal’s financial structure is noteworthy, with Netflix agreeing to pay WWE $500 million per year, which is double the revenue that WWE currently generates from its deal with NBCUniversal. This significant financial investment emphasizes the value placed on live sports programming in the streaming era. Additionally, Netflix has the option to either extend the contract for another ten years or opt out after five years.
Under this new partnership, outside the United States, Netflix will also become the home for other WWE shows such as SmackDown and NXT, as well as premium live events including WrestleMania and Royal Rumble. This comprehensive coverage ensures that fans around the world will have unprecedented access to WWE’s full slate of programming.
The move to Netflix marks the first time in over 30 years that RAW will not air weekly on cable television, representing a significant shift in how audiences consume live sports entertainment. This transition from traditional TV broadcasting to live streaming is a strategic response to changing viewer habits, with more consumers opting for on-demand and streaming services over conventional cable TV.
Netflix’s entry into the realm of live event streaming through WWE’s RAW is a calculated step to stay competitive in a reinvigorated streaming market. While other platforms like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock have already ventured into live sports broadcasting, Netflix’s partnership with WWE positions it to capture a significant share of the live sports streaming audience.
The implications of this deal extend beyond the immediate impact on WWE and Netflix. It sets a new precedent for the value and distribution of live sports content, potentially influencing future negotiations and deals across the sports and entertainment industry. As streaming services continue to evolve, partnerships like the one between WWE and Netflix could become increasingly common, reshaping the landscape of sports broadcasting.
The success of this partnership could pave the way for more live sports content to find a home on streaming platforms, forever altering how audiences around the world experience their favorite sports and events.
Ultimately, this is a win for WWE, especially in light of recent developments with The Rock recently joining TKO’s board of directors.
