In contrast to initial expectations of AEW’s deal with Warner Bros. Discovery ending this year, recent reports from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter indicate that the agreement has been extended until December 31, 2024.
This extension suggests that AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery came to a new agreement earlier this year. The terms of this extension not only encompassed the new weekly series “Collision” but also granted the broadcast network exclusivity to AEW programming.
On another front, WWE has concluded its exclusive negotiation windows with NBCUniversal and FOX and is currently in the process of securing a new television deal for NXT and RAW.
AEW’s ongoing exclusive window with Warner Bros. Discovery is significant, as the company anticipates that its value to Warner Bros. Discovery and potentially other networks will rise if WWE secures a substantial increase in funding for its upcoming TV contract. If WWE achieves a 40% boost for RAW similar to SmackDown, this would amount to $658 million.
Comparatively, RAW and SmackDown collectively attract twice the viewers aged 18-49 compared to AEW’s programming, including Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. This difference in viewership is estimated to place AEW’s annual value at approximately $329 million.
Although securing a higher value for its next TV contract is uncertain, AEW could potentially attain figures in the range of $200 million to $240 million, which, even at the lower end, would still result in profitability, especially considering the estimated $170 million per year scenario.
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