Written by Kianna Best on Jan 23, 2024. Posted in General Interest

WWE Raw finds new home at Netflix

As part of a new long term deal that brings weekly live sports entertainment to Netflix, WWE Raw will be coming to the streaming platform at the beginning of 2025. The USD 5 billion deal marks the first time WWE Raw will be away from linear television in 31 years. The franchise will be brought to Netflix in the U.S, Canada, the U.K and Latin America.

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

Bringing in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year, WWE Raw ranks at the number one show on USA Network. Debuting in 1993, the three hour show has helped launch the careers of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who recently became a board member of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings. Spread over 10 years, the USD 5 billion deal will make Netflix the exclusive home for the longstanding wrestling show, drawing in a legion of loyal fans. Since its announcement, Netflix shares have already increased by 2%, with TKO Group’s increasing by more than 20% according to Forbes.

“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

Images courtesy of WWE