"Netflix's Game-Changing Move: WWE Deal and Live Sports Signal Shift to Cable TV Model"
Netflix's $5 billion deal to broadcast live wrestling, including WWE's "Raw" and "SmackDown," signals a shift towards live programming and a collision with traditional media, as the streaming giant aims to combine its original content with the immediacy of live sports and entertainment. The move reflects a trend of streaming services offering live professional sports, with Netflix seeking to broaden its appeal and drive ad revenue by 2025. The deal is seen as a defensive move to match the breadth of live content available on rival services, and Netflix may venture into more live events while avoiding bidding for expensive sports rights.