According to multiple reports Netflix and the WWE struck a 10-year deal worth approximately $5 billion to stream exclusively on Netflix starting in 2025.  

Additionally, I think the PPV events will stream on Peacock.

I realize that is a lot of money and hard to pass up but I think this is what happens when a mom and pop business goes full corporate.  The corporate powers that be squeeze every penny out of it with no regard for their fan base. 

1 hour ago, theguru said:

I realize that is a lot of money and hard to pass up but I think this is what happens when a mom and pop business goes full corporate.  The corporate powers that be squeeze every penny out of it with no regard for their fan base. 

I was really tired of spending $150 per month on cable. Now I have six separate streaming services that each cost $25 per month to watch all the stuff I missed from cable. I'm saving tons of money! ?

25 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

I was really tired of spending $150 per month on cable. Now I have six separate streaming services that each cost $25 per month to watch all the stuff I missed from cable. I'm saving tons of money! ?

I just had this EXACT conversation with a friend of mine and then told them about the SuperBox.

How long until Netflix raises their prices again and the rationale will be because they added the WWE.

Oh Boy, thanks!

Netflix has an option to get out of the deal after 5 years.  If they stay the full 10 years, they have the option to extend the deal by 10 more years.  

The deal with WWE has with Peacock, valued at $200 million per year, is up in March of 2026.  Peacock currently has media rights to all WWE Pay Per Views & the WWE Network.  So all that will remain the same until March of 2026.  After that, who knows?  WWE & NBC Universal have been partners basically ever since Vince McMahon purchased the company from his father, so it'll be interesting to see.

With this Netflix deal, all WWE content outside the USA will be available only on Netflix.

It's a huge deal for WWE.  Their present Media Rights deals look like this:

Raw - USA (NBC Universal), valued at around $265 million per year.  Expires in October of 2024.
Smackdown - FOX, valued at $205 million per year.  Expires in October of 2024.
NXT - USA (NBC Universal), valued at around $15 million per year.  Expires in October of 2024.

At the end of this year, it will switch to this:

Raw - Netflix, valued at $500 million per year
Smackdown - USA, valued at $280 million per year
NXT - CW, valued at $25 million per year

About a 60% increase in their Media Rights revenue from the current deals to the new ones.  Nick Khan, the CEO of WWE, is the driving force behind most of this.  The merger with Endeavor helps too.

Also, The Rock has been added to the WWE Board of Directors.  

What WWE has done that's smart, I think, is they have one show on a Network (NXT on The CW).  One show on traditional cable (Smackdown on USA).  And now one show on a Streaming service (Smackdown on Netflix).

55 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

I was really tired of spending $150 per month on cable. Now I have six separate streaming services that each cost $25 per month to watch all the stuff I missed from cable. I'm saving tons of money! ?

We pay about $80 for Hulu Live now that we've ditched Direct.  $12 per month for Amazon Prime.  $6 per month for Peacock.  $5 per month for Paramount.  $5 per month for Shudder.  About $110 per month total.

Previously, we were paying about $150 for Direct.  But if we jump in with Netflix, we're going to change something.  Probably go from Hulu to Sling.

35 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

We pay about $80 for Hulu Live now that we've ditched Direct.  $12 per month for Amazon Prime.  $6 per month for Peacock.  $5 per month for Paramount.  $5 per month for Shudder.  About $110 per month total.

Previously, we were paying about $150 for Direct.  But if we jump in with Netflix, we're going to change something.  Probably go from Hulu to Sling.

Yeah, I was joking in the earlier post. I do think I'm way ahead right now of where I was when I had Dish Network. However, if more and more sports move to streaming services then I think I'll end up being a loser in all of this. And it certainly looks like more and more sports are moving.

Through all the streaming wars, Netflix has separated itself from the others, and it ain't close. I pretty much trust any move they make.

Just now, bugatti said:

Through all the streaming wars, Netflix has separated itself from the others, and it ain't close. I pretty much trust any move they make.

I have Netflix, I don't watch it much so when I do want to find something on Netflix it is always easy.  I will probably keep it, who knows...

5 minutes ago, theguru said:

I have Netflix, I don't watch it much so when I do want to find something on Netflix it is always easy.  I will probably keep it, who knows...

And to clarify, everybody has their preferences. But Netflix has lapped the field multiple times with the amount of content and number of subscribers. It is a machine that was so far ahead of the curve in its model of capturing worldwide subscribers. Prime does their thing, but a bulk of that is just tied to being a Prime shopping member.

3 minutes ago, bugatti said:

And to clarify, everybody has their preferences. But Netflix has lapped the field multiple times with the amount of content and number of subscribers. It is a machine that was so far ahead of the curve in its model of capturing worldwide subscribers. Prime does their thing, but a bulk of that is just tied to being a Prime shopping member.

We are in lockstep and I don't consider Prime a legit contender against Netflix, I consider it a benefit (and very nice one) of having Amazon Prime which you all know I love!

And now Vince McMahon is hit with a very disgusting sexual trafficking lawsuit.  And Brock Lesnar is listed in the suit as well. 

19 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

And now Vince McMahon is hit with a very disgusting sexual trafficking lawsuit.  And Brock Lesnar is listed in the suit as well. 

Wow, I just read an article about it.  That article didn't mention Brock but it did mention Laurinaitis as an offender too and I didn't know this part but based on what I am about to copy and paste from NBC I think I believe the young lady:

McMahon had initially stepped down as CEO in 2022 after an investigation found that he had paid nearly $15 million to four women over 16 years to quiet claims of sexual misconduct.

So I guess this is number five (at least) over 18 years.  

I just got this from my provider, altafiber:

Dear Valued Customer,
 
We regret to inform you that, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to reach a new agreement with Paramount Global, the owner of Showtime.
 
As a result, we are required to remove Showtime from our lineup on 1/31/24 at 11:59 pm. Although we initially reached an agreement on costs and terms, Paramount Global has chosen not to sign, making it necessary for us to take this action. Unfortunately, they are also demanding renewals for other channels and withholding access to Paramount+ for our customers.
 
Please be aware that any recordings saved from these channels will need to be watched prior to 1/31/24 at 11:59 pm, and Video on Demand will no longer be available once the contract expires. 
 
To continue enjoying Showtime and other Paramount Global content, we recommend subscribing directly to Paramount+. You can sign up for a free trial by visiting Paramount+ Website.
 
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information and updates, please visit us at altafiber.com/TVupdates.
 
Thank you for your continued support.
 
altafiber

39 minutes ago, theguru said:

Wow, I just read an article about it.  That article didn't mention Brock but it did mention Laurinaitis as an offender too and I didn't know this part but based on what I am about to copy and paste from NBC I think I believe the young lady:

McMahon had initially stepped down as CEO in 2022 after an investigation found that he had paid nearly $15 million to four women over 16 years to quiet claims of sexual misconduct.

So I guess this is number five (at least) over 18 years.  

I am definitely inclined to take her story at face value.  Too much of this stuff surrounds Vince.