The WWE Network debuts next Monday in America and it's getting a lot of attention as it should, but it is WWE's new TV deal that wrestling fans should really be paying attention to. The current TV deal in America currently pays WWE approximately $139.5 million per year. That money comes from NBC Universal, which airs WWE Monday Night Raw on USA Network and WWE Friday Night Smackdown on Syfy. A new story from Variety.com offers insight into what might be next for the wrestling giant. A WWE spokesman offered an update on the current negotiations:
"WWE's exclusive negotiating period with NBCU for our flagship television programs, 'Raw' and 'SmackDown,' has now expired. While we were unable to reach an agreement with NBCU during this period, we have certainly appreciated our long and productive partnership. With year-round, live programming that is highly coveted by programmers, distributors and advertisers, we are extremely excited about our future. We look forward to engaging with potential partners who recognize the value of having the #1 show on cable and live content delivered 52 weeks a year."
The exclusive negotiating window that WWE had with NBCU expired on February 15. Now that it's over, they can engage in talks with other networks that may have an interest in carrying WWE programming going forward. The next TV deal will be crucial for the future of the company. If they can increase their TV rights by double or triple the current number then that brings more money in and would allow WWE to grow into a bigger entity going forward. Where could WWE end up if they move? A potential landing spot could be the Turner networks TNT & TBS, which were the homes of WCW Nitro and Thunder. A former WWE partner was Viacom in the early 2000s, which aired Raw on Spike TV. Currently Spike TV is the home of TNA Impact Wrestling, but if they were able to get WWE programming that would most likely end TNA's run on that network. Perhaps Fox Sports with their sports cable channel Fox Sports 1 could have interest. What about the Disney owned ESPN family of channels? Seems unlikely, but WWE is a proven entity so it's a possibility. What is known about the situation is that WWE has leverage here. Raw has been a cable TV powerhouse for over 20 years now and as they mentioned, it is the #1 rated show on cable. The new TV deal would also mean that Smackdown will air live likely on Tuesdays since WWE is offering that as part of the package. If WWE likes an offer from some other company, NBCU does have the ability to match any offer. It would then be up to WWE to choose where they want to go. In NBCU they would have a partner that they have known for most of the past 21 years. They're likely going to go with who offers the most money and provides the best opportunity to grow the WWE brand. The more visible they are on TV, the better it is for the WWE Network too. It should also be noted that Raw and Smackdown will continue to air on USA Network and Syfy through September 30, so whatever deal WWE makes won't go into effect into this October. While it's not known exactly when a new WWE TV deal will be announced, it's likely to happen within in the next two months. Considering all the eyes that will be on WWE for WrestleMania 30, it wouldn't surprise us if it happened towards the end of March when a major announcement like that would garner the most attention. We'll keep you updated as this major story develops.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.
