Netflix has quite the flexibility with their new WWE deal.
Earlier this morning, it was announced that Netflix would be the new home of ‘Monday Night RAW,’ beginning in January 2025. The deal is for 10 years and $5 billion total, which is good for $500 million per year.
However, in TKO Group’s SEC filing of the deal, Netflix has an option to opt out of the deal after five years, with an additional option to add 10 years to the deal, extending it to a massive 20 year deal, which would run through 2045.
From TKO Group’s SEC filing:
“On January 23, 2024, the Company announced a partnership between WWE and Netflix. Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025.
The agreement has an initial 10-year term for an aggregate rights fee in excess of $5 billion with an option for Netflix (x) to extend for an additional 10 years and (y) to opt out after the initial five years.”
– TKO Group
The current home of ’WWE RAW,’ sees USA Network paying the professional wrestling media giant a reported $240 million per year to broadcast every Monday night.
In September 2023, WWE announced that ’SmackDown’ would be moving from FOX to the aforementioned USA Network in 2024, while ’NXT’ would jump from the USA Network to the CW Network, later this year.
BodySlam will provide all details on WWE’s broadcasting rights as they become available.
