All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has officially signed a new multi-year multimedia rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but according to sources, the deal is valued at upwards of $150 million per year when all elements are taken into account. Under the new deal, AEW shows “Dynamite” and “Collision” will remain on TBS and TNT respectively. But for the first time since its launch in 2019, AEW programming will stream live on Max simultaneously for U.S. subscribers and will be available to stream on-demand starting in January 2025.
“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said AEW CEO, GM and head of creative Tony Khan. “This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come. We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”
The deal also includes enhanced distribution rights across social media as well as potential new AEW programming on linear and digital platforms. Furthermore, AEW live pay-per-views will be available on Max later in 2025 at a discounted price per event, with all marketing and promotions of those events exclusively centered on Max.
“Tony Khan and the entire AEW team have been incredible partners, and we are thrilled to strike this expanded agreement to deliver amazing new AEW content and stories to TNT and TBS, as well as bring the thrilling live action to Max for the first time,” said Kathleen Finch, chairman and CEO of US Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery. “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fanbase while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”
AEW’s flagship show, “Dynamite,” debuted on TNT in October 2019. The show currently ranks as Wednesday’s number one cable entertainment series among adults 18-49. “Collision” is currently in the top five of in its Saturday timeslot among both adults 18-49 and men 18-49.
AEW’s current roster includes champions Bryan Danielson, Mariah May, Mercedes Moné, tag team The Young Bucks, Will Ospreay, Jack Perry, Wheeler Yuta, Pac, Claudio Castagnoli, and Kazuchika Okada.
“I was there when Tony Khan first shared his vision for creating a media and live entertainment company that would disrupt the wrestling industry,” said Bernie Cahill, founding partner of Activist Artists Management. “This WBD renewal is a resounding validation of Tony’s vision and leadership – making AEW a unicorn in terms of enterprise value in the media and live entertainment space.”
News of the AEW deal comes as sports rights prices have skyrocketed. AEW’s chief rival, WWE, recently set new deals for its shows “Raw,” “SmackDown,” and “NXT,” with “Raw” set to debut on Netflix in January 2025.
The press release from WBD certainly seems to confirm the cancellation of Rampage, it’s never mentioned.
Makes sense. SRS also said in a tweet earlier that ‘they’ (AEW I presume) have wanted to bring back Dark for a while (though it could have just been mentioned since a fan asked, but its clearly been talked about internally) so maybe we can drop Rampage and bring back the ExcaliTaz Podcast lmao.
rampage is tainted with cm punk. get rid of it and start fresh.
So is Collision, to be honest.
Collision was saved by traveling to titty city! The hairiest place on earth!
Sports Business Journal reports $170 mil with everything included https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/10/02/aew-warner-bros-discovery
In the same paragraph they also confirm, I believe for the first time anywhere, that WBD has an equity stake in AEW.
“here’s why that’s bad for aew” - wrestling observer, probably
October 2, 2024 – Warner Bros. Discovery and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) today announced a multi-year renewal of their highly successful five-year relationship with an expansive multi-platform media rights agreement that will provide fans with the widest available access ever to AEW’s most popular programming.
WBD’s networks and platforms will remain the exclusive home of AEW Dynamite (Wednesdays on TBS) and AEW Collision (Saturdays on TNT), with enhanced distribution rights across social platforms as well as building opportunities for additional AEW programming for linear and digital platforms in the future.
Additionally, for the first time, all AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision programming starting January 2025 will stream live exclusively on Max (U.S. subscribers only). All AEW programming airing on WBD’s networks will also be available to stream on demand on Max.
AEW and WBD will also collaborate to distribute AEW live pay-per-view events on Max at a discounted price per event, with all marketing and promotions of those PPV events exclusively centered on Max. AEW PPV distribution on Max will begin later in 2025, with additional information and pricing to be shared in the coming months.
“Tony Khan and the entire AEW team have been incredible partners, and we are thrilled to strike this expanded agreement to deliver amazing new AEW content and stories to TNT and TBS, as well as bring the thrilling live action to Max for the first time,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and CEO of US Networks, WBD. “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fanbase while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”
“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan. “This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come. We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”
Since its inaugural year in 2019, AEW has collaborated with WBD to build a next-generation, pro-wrestling franchise with captivating stories, dynamic and diverse characters, and energetic events all year round. AEW programming has reached more than 33 million fans this year across TBS and TNT, with AEW Dynamite on TBS ranking as Wednesday’s #1 cable entertainment program among P18-49. AEW Collision also ranks among the top 5 programs in its Saturday time slot among P18-49 and M18-49.
The addition of AEW’s popular programming on Max adds to an already robust slate of live programming available to U.S. subscribers, including CNN Max — a 24/7 live news stream featuring live news and programming, and in-depth reporting of all of the biggest news each day and the upcoming U.S. election cycle from CNN’s global news team; and, the B/R Sports Add-on, featuring live coverage of the upcoming MLB postseason, NHL and NBA regular seasons, NCAA Men’s March Madness, US Men’s & Women’s National Team soccer matches, Bellator MMA, Mountain West college football, MotoGP, FIA World Endurance Championship, world cycling, and — in 2025 — NASCAR, Roland-Garros tennis, and BIG EAST men’s and women’s college basketball.
Now I just have to wait until that stupid deal Sky has to HBO Max rights in UK/Ireland to lapse some time next year.
Some day one of these press releases might actually matter here!
We haven’t had it confirmed if AEW is in the sports package or base Max yet.
I wonder if it’ll be cheaper to use a VPN/Triller than Max, etc for the TV+PPVs. Also personal enjoy hopping over commercials. I imagine I’d have to buy commercial free to do that with Max.
Man I wish the PPVs were included in a regular Max subscription; would make there being so many shows easier to stomach.
For me the jury is still out.
This is fantastic news! So glad for AEW.
YES! I CAN FINALLY DROP STUPID TURDY SLING!!!
Huzzah!
On the one hand I’m excited to be able to watch AEW legally, but on the other hand, I typically watch shows once they’re done and I doubt Max will let me watch parts I don’t care about at double speed.
The press release states “All AEW programming airing on WBD’s networks will also be available to stream on demand on Max.” which seems to indicate after it airs it will be available on demand, which should let you skip the ads if it has ads at all, but I guess we won’t truly know until January.
I was more talking about being able to speed up the playback. On the site I use now I can watch promos and matches I don’t care about at double speed so I still see what happened, I just can get through it quicker. It’s also fun to sometimes watch a lucha match sped up to make it extra bonkers.
Oh, then yeah you’ll probably have to sail the seas for that. Outside of YouTube I don’t think anybody lets me speedup things, at least I don’t see it as an option of Peacock or Paramount+.
