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The world’s biggest streaming provider is about to get even bigger. A new historic deal will see WWE on Netflix, with its flagship weekly series, RAW, along with all other WWE original content and previous live shows. Given the massive fan following that all WWE programming has internationally, it’s a huge bump for the streamer and will pave the way for WWE on Netflix to be a huge success. But more than anything else, it may set the stage for the streaming company to venture into other areas of television programming.
What WWE On Netflix Means For Streaming
Being the first streaming company in the landscape, Netflix is still one of the more dominant ones. Changing the game within the entertainment industry, Netflix revolutionized the way we watch movies and TV. So much so that every other major movie and TV studio began to follow suit. Years and a pandemic later, I think it’s safe to say that Netflix is winning the streaming wars. While movie studios begin their pivot back to theatrical releases, like Warner Brothers Discovery’s Max, formerly HBO Max. Even Disney+ and their Marvel programming are pulling back to focus more on quality. Other streamers like Peacock and Paramount+ have always struggled within the landscape. But Netflix is expanding.
To be fair, Netflix has struggled also with its spending and has previously scaled back much of its original content budget, and been more conservative with greenlighting projects. Despite this though, Netflix has remained the streaming service that has stayed consistent among all others. But now, with the WWE on Netflix deal, the streamer could make headway into live events territory.
Netflix Has Been Flirting With Live Events Already
The WWE on Netflix deal isn’t the first time the streamer has done live events. Beginning in March 2023, the Chris Rock comedy special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage was aired live. While that was successful, the other event, the Love Is Blind Reunion show had some hiccups in the live-streaming. But most recently, the 30th Screen Actor’s Guild Awards found a home on Netflix without any issues. Still, none of these signaled any major shift in their programming status in the industry.
In comparison, starting in 2023, Amazon won the exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football for 10 years. Potentially, one of Netflix’s biggest competitors, Amazon was one of the first times a streamer went into live sporting events. Followed very quickly by NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, which got a massive hit with its live-streaming of the NFL playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. Coincidentally, all of WWE’s original content library is currently with Peacock, until 2025 when it transfers to Netflix.
WWE On Netflix Deal Could Pave The Way For Something Bigger
Netflix usually enters a territory or market and begins to dominate. Over the years, the streamer has ventured into areas of storytelling like original series, horror, rom-coms and so much more. When they began to purchase anime titles, it was just a precursor to them creating more original anime like Castlevania. To the point where it’s one of the largest streaming platforms for Anime. Later on, Netflix also began to invest in international markets like India and Korea, now boasting some of the largest and best Indian and Korean original movies and TV content than any other streamer.
Similarly, Netflix venturing into such a major 10-year deal with WWE sports entertainment programming could mean bigger things. Currently, according to a new report, the NBA is looking to branch out from their deal that allows them to stream their games between Disney and Warner Brothers Discovery. The NBA wants to double its current $24 billion, which is where Netflix may come in. They will have to compete with Disney and WBD, in case those companies want to use their preexisting relationship to invest in the NBA again. But if the WWE on Netflix deal is a precursor, then they could also be a huge part of that NBA deal as well. Only time will tell.
