Netflix has expanded its partnership with WWE to become the U.S. home for WWE's library of premium live events, documentaries, and original programming, following the expiration of WWE's deal with Peacock. This includes past episodes of Monday Night Raw and upcoming seasons of WWE: Unreal, with Netflix also securing rights to stream WWE's live events and shows outside the U.S. for the next ten years.
WWE will start streaming its live events on ESPN's new direct-to-consumer platform earlier than planned, beginning with Wrestlepalooza on September 20 in Indianapolis, marking ESPN as the exclusive home for WWE's premium live events, including upcoming major shows like WrestleMania and SummerSlam from next year.
ESPN has secured a five-year U.S. rights deal starting in 2026 to broadcast all major WWE live events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, with content also available on ESPN's upcoming streaming platform, marking a significant shift from NBCU's Peacock. The deal aims to attract a younger and more diverse audience and may include additional WWE-related programming and collaborations.
Netflix is expanding its advertising efforts by launching its own ad network, increasing ad-supported subscriptions, and introducing interactive ads and live events to boost revenue, while also exploring AI to enhance content creation and visual effects, signaling a strategic shift towards monetization and technological innovation.
Fever has acquired ticketing company Dice, continuing its expansion in live-events technology. Dice will operate as a standalone app, offering access to Fever’s extensive audience across over 40 countries. The deal aims to accelerate growth, enhance ticket sales, and strengthen Fever’s position in the global live entertainment industry. Dice, with over 10 million monthly users and significant revenue growth, has a history of funding and strategic moves, including recent layoffs and industry advocacy. Fever, backed by substantial funding and high valuation, is expanding its influence in live events and sports.
WWE's 'Monday Night Raw' will maintain its family-friendly 'TV-PG' rating as it moves to Netflix, despite speculation about more mature content. WWE executives confirmed that the show will remain suitable for all ages and emphasized the global reach Netflix provides. They also addressed concerns about live streaming issues, assuring improvements after previous technical difficulties. The move marks a significant shift for WWE, which has historically been on linear TV, and is part of a broader strategy to expand its international audience and content offerings on Netflix.
Netflix faced technical challenges during its first live boxing event featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, with 60 million viewers experiencing streaming issues. Despite complaints about freezing and crashing, Netflix's CTO acknowledged the need for improvement while considering the event a success. This comes as Netflix plans to expand into live sports streaming, including an upcoming NFL doubleheader and WWE events.
Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in a highly anticipated boxing match viewed by 60 million households globally on Netflix, marking the largest live event the platform has produced. The event also featured a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. Despite its success, the event faced technical issues, including lagging and buffering, similar to previous Netflix live events. Netflix continues to expand its live event offerings, with plans to air NFL games and WWE shows in the future.
NFL star Travis Kelce is bringing back his music festival Kelce Jam, featuring performances by Lil Wayne, Diplo, and 2 Chainz, with pre-sale tickets starting at $49.99. The event, presented by Jim Beam, will also include local Kansas City restaurant pop-ups and interactive activations. Kelce discusses his love for Kansas City, his excitement for the festival, and what he's learned from his pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift about connecting with the audience during live events.
Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight champion, will face social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul in a match on July 20, which will be streamed live on Netflix. This event is part of Netflix's push into "sports-adjacent programming" and marks Tyson's first fight since 2020. The bout is a result of a partnership between Netflix and Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, with both fighters set to be paid a similar amount for the fight.
UFC and WWE have announced a five-year live event partnership with the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, bringing a minimum of three events each to the venue through 2028. The partnership will feature a variety of events, including UFC championship Pay Per Views, Fight Nights, and WWE's arena shows. OCVIBE, a sports and entertainment district, will host these events and collaborate with UFC to create immersive fan experiences. The partnership kicks off with UFC 298: VOLKANOVSKI vs TOPURIA on Feb. 17, followed by WWE Monday Night Raw on Feb. 19, making Honda Center the first venue to host back-to-back UFC and WWE events.
Despite the rising costs, advertisers continue to invest in Super Bowl commercials, with the average cost of a 30-second ad spot reaching $7 million for the second consecutive year. In an era of fragmented media, the Super Bowl remains a reliable way for companies to reach a mass audience, as live events draw the highest attention in an increasingly streaming-dominated landscape.
Netflix has secured a 10-year, $5 billion deal for exclusive rights to stream WWE's flagship weekly wrestling show, "Raw," starting in 2025. This move represents a significant expansion into live events for the streaming platform, broadening its offerings with more live content and giving it ownership of streaming WWE's other shows and specials outside of the United States. The deal aims to combine Netflix's reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE to deliver more value for their audiences and members, making Netflix more competitive with rivals in the live sports streaming space.
Netflix has secured a $5 billion deal to stream WWE's Raw program over the next decade, marking the wrestling organization's departure from its longtime home on cable TV. This move reflects the growing shift towards streaming and the increasing interest of streaming services in live sports and events. The deal will also give Netflix the rights to stream all WWE programs outside the US, including SmackDown and WrestleMania, and is expected to expand the reach of WWE while potentially leading to the development of documentaries based on WWE characters and superstars.
Senators have introduced the Fans First Act, a bill aimed at addressing long-standing issues with ticket purchasing for live events. The bill calls for transparency from sellers, requiring them to disclose the full price of tickets, seat numbers or sections, and whether the ticket is from a primary or secondary seller. Violations could result in civil penalties. The bill comes a year after complaints about ticket-selling practices and high pricing from companies like Ticketmaster and resale marketplaces. Ticketmaster faced scrutiny for its ticket pricing and alleged abuse of the primary ticketing and live event venues market. The bill would strengthen existing legislation against the use of computer bots and require ticket sellers to offer full refunds for canceled events.
