Stamford, December 1 - There has been an update regarding WWE RAW's recent television deal negotiations.
Raw and NXT currently enjoy partnerships with the USA Network, while SmackDown is broadcast on FOX until the fall of 2024. WWE has decided to part ways with FOX and has inked a five-year deal to bring SmackDown back to the USA Network. Simultaneously, NXT is set to migrate to the CW Network.
This transition for all the shows is scheduled to take place in October 2024. Notably, the new deal secures SmackDown's presence on the USA Network until 2029. Raw is anticipated to depart from the USA Network, a decision influenced by the substantial fees associated with SmackDown's broadcasting rights. However, given the enduring relationship between the WWE and the USA Network, a potential return for Raw is not entirely ruled out, provided both parties can negotiate a favorable agreement.
Throughout much of the negotiation period, FX emerged as the frontrunner, with discussions involving Netflix, USA, WBD, and Amazon Prime. Initial aspirations targeted a $400 million annual deal, but analysts are now projecting a more realistic figure of around $387 million per year.
Triple H and WWE President Nick Khan convened in Los Angeles, California, this week to discuss Raw's media rights, which explains Triple H's absence from Monday night's Raw. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer disclosed that WWE is aiming for an annual deal worth $400 million. However, industry analysts predict a more realistic figure closer to $387 million annually.
For Warner Bros. Discovery, the network currently airing AEW programming, securing the rights to Raw would be a significant development, especially as AEW also needs to secure a new TV deal next year. Privately, insiders at Warner Bros. Discovery have dismissed the notion of TBS or TNT as potential destinations for Raw, contrary to recent rumors. On the WWE side, there has been consistent skepticism about WBD as a viable option, fueled by the belief that WBD holds an ownership stake in AEW.
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