As we previously reported here on eWn, a new TV deal between All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to be announced next week.
Fightful Select has shared an update on the rumored new media rights agreement between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The rumored deal is for four years, with three years guaranteed and a one-year option. It is approximately $170 million per year.
According to the report, sources close to the situation have claimed that the information initially reported by Puck’s John Ourand is accurate, and the agreement is nearing completion. However, the announcement date is currently unknown.
Ourand’s report mentioned that an announcement on the agreement could be made “as soon as next week, barring any last-minute challenges.”
Additionally, sources within AEW have stated that information about the television deal is being kept confidential, and the talent has been informed about AEW’s programming future, including the future of pay-per-view events.
Moreover, some individuals believe that any pay-per-view event and Max streaming agreements would be separate from the amount outlined in Ourand’s report. Deals involving Max and pay-per-view events could be independent of the new broadcast agreement between AEW and WBD.
The $200 million per year benchmark for AEW led to CM Punk’s “One Bill Phil” remark in his return promo on AEW Collision last year. The phrase referred to AEW potentially securing an all-encompassing agreement valued at $200 million per year over five years, which would have totaled one billion dollars.
While the current duration of the agreement would not bring AEW to $1 billion in revenue over five years, the $170 million figure, in addition to potential pay-per-view deals, revenue, and any other external media packages, would likely bring AEW to that amount.
Previously, AEW was reportedly offered “at least double” the company’s previous media rights fees. After the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, AEW was said to have received another media rights agreement that was “lengthy” and required thorough review.
During the All Out 2024 weekend, WBD sources confirmed that discussions with AEW were “amicable and ongoing.”
Furthermore, AEW is reportedly still exploring additional media rights deals, which CEO Tony Khan has been interested in doing for a while. This indicates that AEW programming would no longer be exclusive to WBD, which was previously negotiated as part of the agreement that led to AEW Collision and resulted in AEW Dark and Elevation being removed from YouTube.
As we reported earlier, AEW also discussed this with the FOX Network, which has spoken with two other wrestling companies in addition to AEW.
Currently, WBD is preparing materials to announce its 2025 programming lineup. There has been no mention of ROH being involved in any discussions, but that does not rule out the possibility that talks regarding ROH programming have occurred.
While AEW’s financial details are still unknown, a television agreement of this magnitude would likely make the company highly profitable.
