Why WWE Were Barely Featured During FOX, NBCUniversal Media Upfronts

WWE's presence at the FOX and NBCUniversal Upfronts was minimal. Here's why.

by Andy H Murray
Vince McMahon Peacock WWE NBC
WWE / NBC

WWE's presence at this week's NBCUniversal and FOX media upfronts was scarce, with the market-leading wrestling promotion largely restricted to brief clips during its networks' annual presentations - though there may be a good reason for that.

PWInsider Elite reports that FOX and NBCUniversal's exclusivity window for negotiating new television rights deals with WWE has either already expired, or is about to. Internal WWE sources believe that things are on the verge of opening to allow other parties to enter talks.

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WWE content was included as part of a video package advertising Peacock, the streaming platform that exclusively shows premium live events in the United States, during the NBCUniversal upfronts. There were no further mentions or appearances from WWE. The promotion's presence during Monday's FOX upfronts was similarly scarce.

NBCU airs WWE Raw on USA Network on Mondays, as well as NXT on the same channel on Tuesdays. The company's PLEs are on Peacock. Meanwhile, FOX houses SmackDown every Friday night.

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The NXT deal is understood to be expiring this September, with Raw and SmackDown up by the end of the year. WWE's Peacock agreement runs through January 2026.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.