WWE Signs Exclusive Deal With NBC Universal, WWE Network To Shut Down In March

In a semi-shocking piece of news from the world of professional wrestling, it looks as though the WWE Network will disappear at the end of March with the signing of a $1 Billion dollar deal with NBC Universal.

From the WSJ:

“NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform Peacock has struck a deal for exclusive rights to World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. content, the two companies said.

Terms of the pact weren’t disclosed. A person familiar with the deal said it runs five years and is valued at more than $1 billion.

Under the agreement, the WWE will shut down its WWE Network streaming service in the United States in mid-March, and Peacock will license the programming, including the popular “WrestleMania” franchise, for its own platform.

The WWE Network name will still be used on Peacock for branding purposes.”

This news sounds crazy because it feels as though the WWE gives away so much power by having their own network but the NBC machine makes it easier to promote the brand and get new and different eyeballs on the WWE product.

If you’re a wrestling fan like myself who is worried about all the old, classic wrestling content going away, it’s thankfully not going anywhere.

At least not the WWE content.

Besides “WrestleMania,” other content that will move to Peacock starting March 18 include “WWE Icons” and “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions.”

Older WWE events will also be archived on the Peacock platform.

Most importantly, the move to Peacock will save wrestling fans a little scratch, bringing the $10+ subscription fee of WWE Network down to under $5 with the Peacock.

The move to Peacock will be a moneysaver for WWE fans.

The WWE Network costs $9.99 a month, while all the same content will be available on Peacock for $4.99 a month and $9.99 for the commercial-free version.

Some WWE content will also be available on the free version of Peacock.

According to 411 Mania, the Peacock currently has an estimated subscriber base of 26 million. By comparison, “WWE reported in Q3 of 2020 that the Network averaged 1.6 million monthly paid subscribers.”

[via Wall Street Journal]

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