More on WWE’s New NXT Television Deal with The CW & Effect on NWA’s Talks and TV Deal

As noted before, TKO Group announced on Tuesday that WWE recently signed a new television deal with The CW for their NXT television series starting in October of 2024.

Deadline reported that their sources stated that the monetary amount of WWE’s new television deal is “more than double” the $15 million they are currently recieving per year from USA Network. During Tuesday’s investor’s call, TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel stated that the average annual value increase for WWE’s new media rights deal for NXT is 70%.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources provided some additional details and stated that WWE’s new deal for NXT is worth around $35-$37 million per year.

Johnson reported that WWE officials currently view their new deal with The CW as a major opportunity to expose their younger talent to fresh eyes and viewership with the hope that they can build new stars and the NXT brand itself as being something more self-standing and balanced similar to how RAW and SmackDown are currently viewed.

In regards to NXT’s broadcast status, Johnson reported that WWE officials still plan for NXT’s weekly shows to broadcast live but if needed from time to time, they can always pre-tape episodes. Johnson also reported that NXT is still expected to air on Tuesday nights but WWE officials are “always open to conversations” for a different night based on the network needs. NXT shows reportedly is still planned to be taped out of WWE’s Performance Center but WWE officials are open to the idea of holding tapings elsewhere or even touring for weekly shows if the “financials made sense” for the company.

In regards to The CW potentially hosting WWE PLE specials on their network, Johnson reported that the current belief is that these specials will continue going forward on the WWE Network, Peacock, and pay-per-view providers.

In regards to other wrestling companies that spoke with The CW for potential television deals, Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that The CW had been in deep talks with Dave Marquez’s United Wrestling Network to the point that potential strategies were being rolled out. Those talks reportedly were dropped following WWE entering negotiations with The CW in a strong way around four to six weeks ago.

In regards to the rumors and reports of The NWA signings television deals with the CW, Johnson reported that those spoken to from the NWA nor CW had nit confirmed that to be the actual case. Several within NWA were under the belief that WWE’s television deal for NXT would have zero bearing on their own talks with the CW. Johnson reported that those spoken to within NWA stated that talks between the two sides were not dead following WWE’s television deal with the network.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE and The CW had been in talks for months and well before the rumors of the NWA signing a deal with The CW even started. Those within WWE spoken to reportedly stated that they had felt that things moved very quickly with one source stating that they were very satisfied with the company’s new television deal for NXT. It was reported that this new deal was particularly appealing for WWE due to them getting a significant rights fee increase and now being on a basic network that widens the possible audience base for their NXT brand.

In regards to the WWE’s current plans for the content of NXT shows on The CW, those spoken to reportedly stated that they currently expect it to remain very similar as it is now on USA Network. WWE officials reportedly have been very happy with the viewership increases they have enjoyed in recently months for their NXT shows, especially with the involvement from main roster stars on shows. NXT officials reportedly have also been very happy over the recent viewership and ratings increases for their shows.

In regards to the NWA, it was reported that several NWA talent spoken to stated that they were surprised when they found out about WWE’s television deal with one talent stating that they were blindsided by it. While NWA had been in talks with The CW for a television deal, those spoken to within WWE currently do not expect that happen anymore now that they have their own deal with the network.