WWE’s flagship weekly professional wrestling show “Raw” is coming to Netflix in January 2025, a significant step for the video streaming giant as it continues to add more sports content and live events to its programming. .
Under the deal, Netflix will stream “Raw” exclusively in the US, Canada, the UK, Latin America and other territories starting in January 2025. The streamer will also air WWE shows and specials outside the US. USA, including “SmackDown” and “NXT”, its live events such as WrestleMania, as well as WWE documentaries and series in 2025.
Mark Shapiro, president and COO of WWE parent company TKO, said the partnership with Netflix will expand the wrestling entertainment brand's reach and bring weekly live dating viewing to Netflix.
“This agreement is transformative,” Shapiro said in a statement. “It combines the must-see product of WWE with the extraordinary global reach of Netflix and ensures significant and predictable economics for many years to come.”
Netflix has increased its investment in sports entertainment and live events, hosting a live celebrity golf tournament called the Netflix Cup in November 2023, which featured Formula 1 drivers and PGA Tour golfers. Earlier this month, Netflix and the CW network announced a licensing deal for Netflix to stream the final five episodes of “Inside the NFL” after they air on linear television.
The “Raw” deal is the first time the show has left traditional television since it began about three decades ago. He brings a “huge, passionate multi-generational fan base” to Netflix, said the service's chief content officer, Bela Bajaria.
“By combining our reach, recommendations and fandom with WWE, we will be able to bring more joy and value to their audiences and our members,” Bajaria said in a statement. “'Raw' is sports entertainment at its best, combining great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we are thrilled to be a part of this long-term partnership with WWE.”
“Raw” is USA Network’s flagship show, where it attracts 17.5 million unique viewers throughout the year, WWE and Netflix said. The show has 1,600 episodes and helped the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena.
The deal is for an initial 10 years for a total rights fee of more than $5 billion, with an option for Netflix to extend the deal, according to a TKO filing filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Analysts and industry observers have often raised questions about whether Netflix should enter the live sports programming business.
Last year, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a January earnings presentation: “We're not against sports, we're for profits.”
“We haven't been able to figure out how to make a profit by renting major league sports on our subscription model,” Sarandos said in January 2023. “Not to say that won't change. “We will be open to it, but that is how it is today.”
In an earnings presentation in October, Sarandos said, “We're in the sports business, but we're in the part of the sports business where we bring the most value, which is the drama of sports.”
Netflix will release its earnings results on Tuesday afternoon.
