WWE Has “Big Time Interest” In Disney Partnership
The winds of change are blowing in WWE as the company is on the verge of having its takeover by Endeavor completed while the company also pursues all avenues in the quest to get the best TV rights deal.
Amid the ongoing takeover by Endeavor that will see WWE become part of the TKO Group alongside UFC, the sports entertainment giant is currently holding talks with various media enterprises over its next set of media rights deals.
The exclusivity period for WWE and its current US broadcast partners NBCUniversal and Fox has ended leaving the company to feel out other potential bidders for Raw and SmackDown and it seems the company would be willing to make some big changes to accommodate that.
WrestleVotes has now reported that WWE is very interested in working with Disney down the line and if the TV rights deal went there, it would be viewed as a “win-win” in the company:
“Regarding the TV rights negotiations, there is big time interest from WWE in a Disney partnership. Not to say the other parties involved aren’t enticing, but Disney is viewed as a win-win if that’s ultimately the decision.”
Andrew Marchand of the NY Post has also reported that the Disney-owned FX channel could be a contender for the rights to WWE’s major TV shows. Marchand also notes that should Disney get the rights, FX is a more likely destination than ESPN as ESPN has too many sports commitments during the various seasons to give up a regular slot for Raw or SmackDown.
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PWInsider previously reported that ESPN was interested in doing more business with WWE, although it was thought at the time that interest didn’t necessarily mean a weekly TV show such as Raw or SmackDown. Disney also has its own streaming service in Disney + where theoretically the company’s Network in the US could end up as it is currently a part of the NBC Universal-owned Peacock – however, that deal is not up until March 2026 so no major changes are expected there for the time being.