A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has addressed the potential impact that a corporate merger could have on All Elite Wrestling’s media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. It was recently reported that Paramount Skydance is exploring a bid to acquire WBD. This news raised questions among some fans and analysts about the future of AEW programming on WBD networks like TBS and TNT, as well as the Max streaming service, especially given that WWE’s parent company, TKO, has its own new deal with Paramount to bring UFC content to their platforms. The complex web of media partnerships has created a level of uncertainty about the long-term landscape of wrestling on television.
However, according to the Observer report, the sentiment within AEW is that their current contract is secure and will not be affected by any potential change in ownership.
“While nothing is a sure thing in the TV industry AEW is of the belief that the contract they signed with WBD to air on HBO Max through 2027 (and 2028 if HBO Max picks up the option year) will remain in place. It is unlikely that Paramount’s potential acquisition of WBD would led to HBO Max or TNT/TBS dropping AEW and AEW is likely to be evaluated by where their numbers stand in late 2026 or early 2027, and by that point the AEW PPVs airing on HBO Max will also be a key factor as HBO Max gets a cut of that revenue in terms of the US. The gist of the matter is that AEW’s value will depend on its metrics, which is something that wouldn’t change no matter who owns Warner Bros. Discovery.”
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