Report: AEW Broadcast Partner WBD Potentially Interested In Carrying WWE

Report: AEW Broadcast Partner WBD Potentially Interested In Carrying WWE CNBC/AEW

A recent report has stated that AEW’s broadcast partner WBD could be interested in carrying WWE and having “the entire wrestling market.”

With the introduction of AEW Collision, it was revealed that the current deal between AEW and WBD remains the same and that the new show has been added to the company’s current deal with WBD, which expires in either 2023 or 2024.

With WWE’s media rights also up for negotiation, WBD could also be a included in the race among the many other potential bidders.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio:

“There is talk of WBD being interested in WWE with the idea that they would have the entire wrestling market and they could cross-promote it, but I don’t see that happening at all.

“They may have interest but I can’t see WWE going on the same station as AEW, and certainly if they did there’d be no agreement to cross-promote. But it’s kind of like what ESPN has done, ESPN wants to be the home of MMA – they have the PFL, they have UFC, I think there’s interest if Bellator stays as a separate entity in getting Bellator because they wanna be the home of all of it and be able to cross-promote as much as possible.

“Even though you can’t really cross-promote on the shows themselves, you can still put the commercials. But I don’t see WWE going for that one. It would take a ridiculous offer. And WBD’s already strapped for cash, so I don’t see that one happening, but we’ll see.“

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Meltzer would turn his attention to the current home for WWE and also where the company fits in with regards to the NBA and NFL negotiations, stating:

“There’s been a lot of talk, NBCU will probably keep Raw, and SmackDown, there’s a lot of talk that FOX is not willing to go much higher for SmackDown, so somebody may get them. So we’ll have to wait and see how that all turns out.

“But the NBA’s looking for a giant increase, which, it does have an effect as far as WBD goes, and ESPN goes, but ESPN’s not in the market for WWE, and WBD, even though there’s talk that they’re in the market for WWE, like I said, I’d be surprised if that one happens.

“But there’s other people that would probably want the NBA as well. The NBA’s gonna get their money, the NFL’s gonna get their money, WWE’s a lot lower on the totem pole but he (Nick Khan) was still pretty bullish on the idea of a 50% increase which would be roughly $700 million a year as far as the combined rights fees of Raw and SmackDown. That’s the number they’ve been looking for and he seemed pretty confident they’re gonna get it.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Recently, it was reported that WBD have discussed a potential expansion of AEW’s pay-per-view calendar, which could see AEW host one pay-per-view a month.

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2 years ago by Dave Adamson

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