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Multiple reports provide an update on AEW’s negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery, as a new TV deal seems imminent.
John Ourand at Puck reports that AEW’s new deal with WBD “looks like” it will be for four years, as it would be a three-year agreement with a one-year option. Ourand writes that $170 million per year is “in the ballpark”, and the report notes that AEW would air on TNT, TBS, and TruTV twice every week. (H/t Brandon Thurston)
The report also notes that the announcement “could come” as soon as next week, barring any changes. Ourand also writes that AEW is pitching an additional package to broadcast networks.
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Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that sources say this information “does reflect the truth”, and the deal is being closed in on, but there is no word on a date for an announcement.
Sapp writes that sources ay AEW say that things have been “tight-lipped.” However, several on both sides believe that MAX/streaming could be separate from Ourand’s reported amount. It could even be part of a different deal entirely.
As previously reported, AEW had been offered at least double their previous rights fees, and Sapp writes that WBD sent AEW another “lengthy” offer that needed to be reviewed. The report notes that as of AEW All Out weekend, WBD sources said that the talks were amicable and ongoing.
Furthermore, Sapp writes that AEW is still shopping additional packages. This would mean that the company is no longer exclusive to WBD.
In another update, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed Ourand’s report on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer noted that, if those numbers are accurate, AEW would become the most profitable pro wrestling company in history other than WWE. (H/t Ian Carey of F4WOnline.com)
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
