WWE Being Targeted For Takeover?
Could that long-rumoured WWE sale finally be on the table?
Could WWE be one of the next major entities to be purchased by a streaming juggernaut? According to CNBC, Vince McMahon's sports entertainment behemoth could be the next logical pick-up for a Disney, a Netflix, a Paramount, an NBCUniversal, etc.
With WWE President Nick Khan having already publicly declared how the organisation is "open for business", the publicly traded status of WWE means it stands out as a genuine takeover candidate for streaming services right now.
Having a market capitalisation of $4.6 billion, WWE is an appealing option thanks to its global reach and name recognition. With Vince McMahon owning over 80% of voting power in the company, that clearly means that the 76-year-old McMahon is key to what happens to WWE in the future. If Vince finally does decide to step away from running the business, that throws up the question of whether control of WWE remains with someone close to McMahon - such as daughter Stephanie or the aforementioned Nick Khan - or if instead the decision is made to sell the company off to the highest bidder.
Of course, the North American rights for the WWE Network are already with NBCUniversal and Peacock, and some view that as just the start of the process of Vinny Mac slowly selling the company he's owned since 1982.
With Amazon having nabbed the rights to Thursday Night Football, Apple and Amazon striking deals for MLB games, Netflix showing interest in Formula One, and Disney outright owning ESPN, it's easy to see why WWE is another logical entity for streaming giants to have an interest in.