Update on AEW’s New Media Rights Deal with Warner Bros Discovery – AEW Library Confirmed for MAX, New Deal Reportedly Worth $185 Million Per Year, WBD Retaining Equity Stake, Rampage Future Update [Update]

Update:

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources within AEW and Warner Bros Discovery confirmed that AEW’s new media rights deal is closer to the $185 million per year average. Those spoken to reportedly stated that neither AEW nor WBD had provided the $150 million per year number to Variety for their report.

In regards to the status of WBD’s equity stake in AEW, Sapp reported that those within AEW and WBD stated that they had no knowledge of any equity situation and this was something that was not brought up during talks between the two sides.

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As noted before, AEW recently signed a new media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery that was made official on Wednesday. AEW’s new deal includes AEW Dynamite and Collision shows to air live on simulcast on MAX and AEW pay-per-view events to air on the service latter in 2025. AEW’s new deal was also believed to be worth around $150 million per year.

In regards to AEW’s library, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO of U.S. Networks Kathleen Finch stated to The Hollywood Reporter that AEW’s library will also be available on MAX.

“The benefit now to WBD is to introduce this terrific event to a streaming audience, the Max audience, which may not have been exposed to AEW in any great way until now, starting in January, is going to have it every Wednesday and Saturday nights, as well as the library available to stream. So we are really excited about the growth opportunity and the excitement opportunity that the fandom can bring once we’ve got a new platform to expose AEW to.”

In regards to the monetary amount, Sports Business Journal reported that sources confirmed that AEW’s new deal is for three years in length with an option fourth year. Those spoken to reportedly also stated that the monetary amount per year is also higher than what had been reported by Variety and instead is around $170 million per year.

It was also reported that Warner Bros Discovery will be retaining an equity stake in AEW as part of the terms of their new deal. The size of this equity stake reportedly is currently not known.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that the total monetary amount for AEW’s deal is around $555 million for the first three years at an average of $185 million per year that scales up every year. Meltzer reported that the first year is the lowest and then reaches around the $185 million amount in the second year and the third year’s amount is even higher. Meltzer also reported that the monetary amount for the option year is even higher and would push the total amount to an even higher figure. Meltzer speculated that the reason for the higher than the initially reported amount of $150 million per year is likely due to it including AEW PPVs to be streamed on MAX.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that AEW Dynamite and Collision will remain on their current respective nights and confirmed that Rampage will be cancelled. Those spoken to within WBD reportedly stated that Rampage could end up going elsewhere but if that happens, future episodes would not be airing on their networks. Past Rampage episodes reportedly would be available on MAX.