There have been ongoing discussions regarding the TV rights deal between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery, which is set to expire at the end of this year, and a resolution may be imminent.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO and President, David Zaslav, along with TNT Sports Head Luis Silberwasser, are interested in retaining the five hours of AEW programming per week on TNT and TBS, featuring Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. The reported figures being negotiated exceed the estimated $110 million annual mark.
AEW has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery since its inception in 2019. During this time, the promotion successfully recruited top talent and grew to become the second-largest wrestling promotion globally. The exclusive negotiation period between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery is now close to expiring.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the deal is expected to be announced, possibly before the exclusive negotiation window ends.
Dave Meltzer also mentioned the conflicting reports circulating about the ongoing discussions. He noted,
“There are expectations the deal would be announced imminently, maybe even before the expiration of the exclusive window for negotiating that is just about over. I will say that we’ve gotten people who say they know from all over saying completely contradictory things about the talks.”
Meltzer further stated that AEW President Tony has indicated that the new deal is positive and transformative, while competitors have reportedly suggested otherwise, demonstrating the complexities of these negotiations.
AEW is set to present the 2024 Forbidden Door pay-per-view event in partnership with NJPW this Sunday.
