WWE have announced a deal worth $5 billion with Netflix to screen Monday Night Raw over a ten-year period, starting in January 2025. This is a huge shift for pro-wrestling's flagship weekly show that has been airing on traditional television for over 31 years.
WWE launched their own on-demand streaming Network in 2014, where fans can access live monthly headline shows including WrestleMania and The Royal Rumble, along with all of the company's historic content library and some other original programming. Over the past decade, both Raw and Smackdown have remained with large cable TV networks. Raw is currently the top-rated show on the USA Network, and both weekly shows air on TNT Sports in the UK & Ireland.
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
WWE Raw is getting in the ring with Netflix!
Starting in January 2025, Netflix will exclusively stream WWE Raw in the US, Canada, UK, & Latin America. Every single week, all year long. https://t.co/4hiJ2bBpQG pic.twitter.com/i7lz1k80YL— Netflix (@netflix) January 23, 2024
SBJ reports this is a 10-year $5 billion deal, or an average annual value of $500M.
The new deal includes international rights to all WWE shows.
Press release: "Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw…— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 23, 2024
The headline statements from WWE focused mainly on the broadcast rights for Monday Night Raw in the US, but further detail in the statement from TKO has revealed why many wrestling fans in the UK & Ireland will be pleased by this announcement.
Great news for Wrestling fans in Ireland
In a press release from WWE's parent-group TKO, it was confirmed that the streaming platform will host all of WWE's new weekly and monthly content for fans in this part of the world.
Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the US, as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE's other weekly shows - Smackdown and NXT - as well as the company's Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE's award-winning documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025.
Fans currently paying separate monthly subscriptions to the WWE Network and TNT Sports to catch all of WWE's regular broadcasts, will instead be able to access the same content via their Netflix subscription starting from next year. Netflix will also provide an on-demand option for Raw and Smackdown that is not currently available for NOW customers who access TNT via the 'Sports Extra' package.
This is a major shift in WWE's broadcast model that comes at a time where Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been added to TKO's board of directors. The former WWE Champion is also widely expected to return to in-ring action against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 in April.
Dwayne Johnson Joins Board of WWE and UFC Owner TKO, Gets Ownership of "The Rock" Name https://t.co/e9NICu9QXo
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 23, 2024
A monumental news morning for WWE as they’ve announced RAW will be moving to Netflix starting in January 2025, after agreeing to a 10 year, $5 billion dollar contract.
In addition, The Rock has been appointed to the board of directors for TKO. Dwayne Johnson now has significant…— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) January 23, 2024
It will be interesting to see if the move to Netflix can expand WWE's audience internationally, as the company is currently building momentum in international markets by running major headline shows in Australia, France and Germany in 2024.
WWE has been riding the wave of record-breaking gate receipts and resurgent TV ratings over the past year. Paul 'Triple H' Levesque is now in charge of the on-screen product under the new TKO regime, as Executive Chairman Vince McMahon operates in a less 'hands-on' role. Recent fan sentiment has been hugely positive about the current storylines involving the likes of Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and Seth Rollins, as they build towards the Royal Rumble this weekend and then on to WrestleMania in the Spring.
This partnership is one that will break new ground, and take @WWE to new heights. Thrilled to bring #WWERaw to @Netflix, coming January 2025.
Now we change the game!!!! https://t.co/ridOlqq0Gc— Triple H (@TripleH) January 23, 2024
Congrats to all of my friends at @WWE
Massssive deal for both companies https://t.co/uei7k81My8— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 23, 2024
