WWE Is Coming To Netflix

By Andrew Pollard / January 23, 2024

In some major breaking news, Netflix has secured a huge rights deal to start airing WWE content from January 2025.

First and foremost, the streaming service will become the exclusive home of WWE Raw in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Latin America and other territories as of next January.

For those outside of the US, January 2025 will see Netflix become the new home of a whole bunch of other WWE output. As in, SmackDown, NXT, Premium Live Events, WWE documentaries, original series, and "forthcoming projects" will be on Netflix for international audiences.

Deadline reports that this deal is believed to be for $5 billion across ten years. That equates to $500 million per year, which is vastly more than WWE's existing USA Network deal for Raw; a deal which is in the $250 million per year region.

Additionally, Variety adds how there is currently some uncertainty within WWE as to where Raw will air between October 2024 and January 2025, as the company's deal with USA Network for Raw ends in October.

Of course, USA Network won the US rights to WWE SmackDown last September, with that blue brand show to move from FOX to USA this October. In the UK, Raw and SmackDown both currently air on TNT Sports, although reports last year suggested WWE was exploring their options where it pertains to where its content was broadcast in Britain. Now, January 2025 will see UK fans finding themselves turning to Netflix for the latest WWE output.

Given how much WWE material will be on Netflix for international audiences, that of course will bring plenty of questions regarding the WWE Network in those territories.

The full press release from WWE and Netflix on this deal reads as follows:

STAMFORD, Conn., January 23, 2024 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced a long-term partnership that will bring WWE’s flagship weekly program – Raw – to the world’s leading entertainment service. This marks a major programming shift as Raw leaves linear television for the first time since its inception 31 years ag

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Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. 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

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

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“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

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With 1,600 episodes to date, Raw is the most iconic show in sports entertainment. Since its debut in 1993, Raw has delivered action, compelling drama and unmatched athleticism – 52 weeks a year. Blending the best of scripted content with unpredictable live entertainment, the three-hour show has helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair.

The show is currently the No. 1 show on USA Network, where it brings in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year. One of television’s best performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, Raw trends on X 52 weeks a year while each new episode is airing. On social media, WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms.