ESPN has signed a deal to air all of WWE’s premium live events starting in 2026 as it prepares to launch a new consumer streaming service that costs $29.99 a month.
The deal includes all of WWE’s major shows, including events such as WrestleMania and Summerslam. WWE used to be with Peacock, but now wrestling costumes, which share the same ownership group as the UFC, have moved to ESPN.
It is reportedly a five-year transaction worth $325 million a year, with WWE significantly increasing from its $180 million annual contract due to its current transaction.
The new ESPN streaming service, scheduled for release on August 21, is set to broadcast all major WWE events with selected events on the ESPN Linear Platform.
“We are proud to be able to strengthen ESPN’s “E” at such an exciting time,” said Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO Group Holdings. “WWE Premium Live Event is well known for its rich storytelling type that has become synonymous with ESPN.
“Through the UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformative ESPN’s presence is, and we know that this will be an exceptional partnership for both companies at a major innovation point.”
The agreement will boost ESPN’s new streaming service. This is for the first time that a company can purchase all linear channels and online options in one package with unlimited access starting at $29.99 per month. Users who can access ESPN via traditional cable or satellite packages, and streaming services such as YouTube TV can access new streaming services after verifying their existing cable/satellite packages.
ESPN also recently signed a massive agreement with the NFL, adding more content to its new service with the Sports First Network, which takes over ownership of the NFL network and all its programming.
The addition of the WWE event will take place just four months before UFC’s broadcast contract with ESPN ends. The UFC is negotiating with multiple potential partners on speculation that the promotion is likely to split the package across several outlets.
For now, WWE programming is effectively split up for Netflix on SmackDown’s USA network, Monday Night Raw, and now for ESPN with premium live events. It could give some indication as to where the UFC will ultimately land, especially if TKO is likely to remain in the same partner of both companies.