Netflix is, to this day, the biggest streaming service out there. Of course, with so many competitors in the field now, the platform is constantly trying to innovate itself. Now it’s made one of its biggest moves yet as it’s been revealed that WWE Raw will be headed to Netflix.
This is quite surprising as Netflix has notoriously never focused on acquiring sports rights. Nevertheless, as shared via Deadline, WWE Raw will be available on the platform beginning in January 2025. This deal will go through in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Latin America. Other territories with Netflix are also expected to be added.
“The deal is for 10 years and more than $5 billion,” the publication reveals. The other details regarding the deal are shared as follows:
“Along with the main Raw program, Netflix will become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., including other weekly shows SmackDown and NXT. It will also stream the company’s roster of live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble and also make WWE documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects available on demand outside the U.S. (Peacock, via the WWE hub it originated in 2021, has domestic rights.)”
Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO, delivered the following statement:
“This deal is transformative,” Shapiro began. “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.”
Meanwhile, Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, added her own statement regarding the streaming deal:
“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” Bajaria said. “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.”
WWE President Nick Khan concluded:
“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” Khan said. “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.”
It’s clear that this will mark another major shift for streaming over traditional television. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding Netflix and their new deal focusing on WWE Raw as we have them.