Bidding War Expected For WWE Raw Television Rights
WWE Raw's new television deal is yet to be agreed, BUT...
Ari Emanuel has claimed multiple television networks are interested in acquiring the media rights for WWE Raw.
TKO Group and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel commented on the situation during a recent Bloomberg Live interview. He stated that with SmackDown recently scoring a major increase in rights fees, Raw is "the number one package available", with six potential buyers in play for Endeavor's properties.
Said Emanuel (h/t Figure Four Online/Wrestling Observer):
"We got a 40 per cent increase for SmackDown. We have Raw, which is the number one package available. There's three rights coming available to market, three big rights: WWE Raw, UFC, NBA. We are involved in two of them. There's six buyers. Plus, I would say, WWE Network, which is up in 2026."
WWE is set to lend $1.4 billion for SmackDown's move from Fox to USA Network, which was announced in late September. The deal commences in 2024.
Raw currently airs on USA every Monday night, with the network also carrying NXT on Tuesdays. These contracts are due to renewal by the end of 2023.
Elsewhere in the interview, Emanuel commented that a new NBA rights deal would need to be completed before Raw's, meaning fans may be waiting a while for an announcement.