In a landmark shift for the world of sports entertainment, Netflix has secured a major long-term deal with WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings. This partnership, which marks Netflix’s first major move into a multi-year, long-term live sports rights deal, establishes the streaming giant as the new global hub for WWE programming.
💰 The Deal: Scale and Scope
Valuation: The agreement is reportedly worth over $5 billion over a 10-year period.
Duration: The initial contract spans 10 years, with Netflix having an option to exit after five years or extend the partnership for an additional 10 years.
Launch: The new era of WWE on Netflix officially began in January 2025.
📺 What’s Moving to Netflix?
The specifics of the content on Netflix vary depending on the country, but the deal’s core focus is on Monday Night Raw.
In the United States, Canada, the UK, and Latin America:
Monday Night Raw: Netflix is the exclusive home for the weekly live broadcast of Raw, starting in January 2025.
International Markets (excluding the US for certain content):
For many international territories (including a phased rollout in India and other key markets as existing deals expire), Netflix is becoming the exclusive home for nearly all WWE programming. This includes:
Friday Night SmackDown (Will move to Netflix internationally over time).
NXT
Premium Live Events (PLEs): This is a huge change, as major events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series are included at no additional cost for Netflix subscribers in these regions.
Archival Content & Documentaries: Netflix is also adding a selection of classic matches, original series, and documentaries from the vast WWE library.
Note for US Fans: In the United States, WWE’s Premium Live Events (like WrestleMania) are currently exclusive to Peacock (NBCUniversal’s streaming service) and will remain there until at least March 2026. SmackDown and NXT also continue on other networks in the US for now.
💡 Why This is a Game-Changer
Netflix’s Live Strategy: This deal is a massive step for Netflix, solidifying its commitment to live content. Raw consistently draws a large, loyal, and year-round weekly audience, which is incredibly valuable for the streamer, especially as it builds out its ad-supported subscription tier (AVOD).
Global Reach: The partnership leverages Netflix’s massive worldwide subscriber base to expand WWE’s global footprint, potentially reaching new markets and younger, streaming-first fans.
Wider Accessibility (Internationally): For fans outside the US, the deal simplifies the viewing experience by bringing the three major weekly shows (Raw, SmackDown, NXT) and all major PLEs under one subscription.
The transition marks the end of an era for WWE on traditional broadcast television in many countries and represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing shift of major media rights to streaming platforms.