ESPN announces huge $1.6B WWE deal after NFL – Sports News
ESPN and WWE have introduced a landmark five-year streaming deal value roughly $1.6 billion, making ESPN the unique U.S. home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) starting in 2026.
This settlement represents one of probably the most vital media rights offers in sports activities leisure historical past, proper after ESPN shook palms with the NFL over a landmark partnership settlement.
Under the settlement with the WWE, which was generally known as WWF earlier than dropping a court docket battle, ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform, set to launch on Aug. 21 at $29.99 monthly, will carry each WWE PLE stay, together with marquee occasions like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money within the Bank.
“WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform,” mentioned ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “This agreement… bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
WWE President Nick Khan additionally weighed in: “WWE’s agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States… Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.”
The deal marks a main shift from WWE’s present $900 million streaming settlement with Peacock, which expires in March 2026. Internationally, WWE continues its broadcast relationship with Netflix, which has held rights to its weekly programming and choose PLEs since early 2025.
Under the new deal, ESPN can pay WWE roughly $325 million yearly for unique U.S. streaming rights, a close to doubling of its earlier home streaming price construction.
The timing of the settlement aligns with ESPN’s broader strategic push into digital content material. Disney’s 2025 earnings spotlight this shift: robust streaming growth, subscriber good points throughout Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, and a new 10% equity stake settlement with the NFL.
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The partnership additional reinforces the synergy between ESPN and WWE’s mum or dad company, TKO Group Holdings.
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO, added: “Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be… we know this will be an exceptional partnership.”
This transition brings vital implications for WWE followers. Peacock subscribers will need emigrate for entry to WWE’s largest occasions, whereas ESPN subscribers gain a huge new leisure offering.
The price distinction — $29.99 monthly for the limitless plan on ESPN vs. Peacock’s present $10.99 price — has sparked debate amongst followers about affordability and entry.
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