Wrestling fans, hold onto your hats because big news is on the horizon! AEW may be on the brink of finalizing a new broadcasting deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This has been the burning question all year as AEW’s current media rights deal with WBD is set to expire soon. But according to a new report by B.J. Bethel, the two parties have agreed to a deal in principle, brokered just in time before WBD’s exclusive re-negotiation window closed.
The specifics of the deal and its official announcement date remain under wraps, but the report suggests that we shouldn’t expect any new AEW shows on the MAX streaming platform until the deal is signed, sealed, and delivered domestically. However, AEW programming has been spotted on MAX internationally, which might be a positive sign but isn’t definitive proof of the deal’s completion.
One major factor impacting the AEW-WBD negotiations is WBD’s expiring agreement with the NBA. The NBA is reportedly set to move from TNT to NBC, ESPN, and Amazon, but WBD has the right to match that offer until July 22. This NBA situation is believed to be the main reason for the delay in finalizing AEW’s new deal.
Another interesting angle is the potential involvement of Ring of Honor (ROH), which Tony Khan acquired in 2022. Earlier speculation hinted that ROH might play a role in the new deal between AEW and WBD. However, recent reports suggest that ROH has not been part of the ongoing negotiations, and this agreement in principle appears to focus solely on AEW.
So, while the wrestling world waits with bated breath for official confirmation, it seems AEW and WBD are close to securing a new chapter in their partnership. Stay tuned for more updates!