AEW has signed a new TV deal

10/2/2024

AEW has signed a new TV deal

AEW has signed a new TV deal today. Details have not fully been released yet but we know it's somewhere around $150 million to $170 million for year. We know it's for three years with an option for a fourth year. We know Dynamite and Collision will be broadcasted simultaneously on HBO Max and TBS/TNT. We know PPV's will also air at a reduced rate on Max and we know the AEW library will be on Max starting in 2025. AEW Rampage was not mentioned in the various press releases and appears to be cancelled. ROH and Battle of the Belts were also not mentioned.

I thought WBD really overpaid here for AEW. It does a bit better than NXT and is getting about 7x the money NXT does. I think WBD overpaid here especially when AEW had few other options due to TV companies having monopolies on TV channels. No wrestling company can exist without TV and WBD spent a lot to keep them on.

I don't think AEW on Max is the win it is portrayed as, though them having their library available online was much overdue. You are going to have to have Max to see the PPV's most likely or be willing to pay more if you don't. A lot of people are not interested in getting Max on top of having to buy a PPV.

The new deal likely means the end of Rampage and possibly Battle of the Belts since neither were mentioned. It's hard to understand why WBD would renew AEW at a higher rate and accept less content with the loss of Rampage. You'd think they would want more content. Rumors have swirled that AEW will create a new show called Shockwave in its place and it is said that show will be on Fox or FS1, but nothing has been officially announced yet. If Shockwave goes to Fox, it will end up being the main show and will be treated seriously. If it ends up on FS1, it will be in a worse spot than Rampage was since fewer people have that channel. Battle of the Belts only happened once in a while and that show being cancelled is no real issue. I didn't always like Rampage, but more wrestling is a good thing and it's a shame if any wrestling show gets cancelled.

Ring of Honor was not mentioned in any of this. It's a horrible brand that even I don't watch and it seems like it will continue to put on shows that nobody watches with no hope of growth. It fails as an entertaining show. It fails as a developmental promotion and it fails at the absolute basics of pro wrestling.

The reports also mentioned that WBD owns some of AEW. This was rumored from the start and explains how AEW got the TV time it did and why WBD has been so friendly towards AEW. 

We'll have to wait for more details to come out, but AEW and Tony Khan should be happy with the new deal. They got a lot of money and it should make them a profitable company. I hope they use the money to get a real developmental system with new rookies. I hope they use it to build their own arena somewhere where they can run shows anytime. I hope they use it on improving production. I hope they do not waste it on more overpriced obscure wrestlers and ex-WWE stars. While I often don't enjoy AEW, more money going to wrestling and wrestlers is a good thing for the industry and hopefully it helps keep wrestling alive and strong. I just wish promotions like WOW, MLW, NWA, NJPW or others could even get a fraction of what AEW got today as it would be game changers for the companies.