WWE And ESPN Sign Landmark Rights Agreement For Premium Live Events Starting In 2026

The new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service is set to launch on Thursday, August 21, according to Variety, just in time for the start of the upcoming NFL and college football seasons.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs starting next year, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs with ESPN also having the option to air the company's pre- and post-show event coverage.

“WWE’s agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media. Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit," said WWE President Nick Khan.

WWE continues to expand its audience

The move to bring all Premium Live Events to ESPN DTC is another significant step for WWE, and parent company TKO, as their media portfolio continues to expand.

“We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey," TKO President Mark Shapiro said in a statement. "WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”

WWE and Netflix kick-started a 10 year, $5 billion deal back in January that saw the streaming giant become the exclusive home for Monday Night Raw in the United States, in addition to PLEs for the international audience.

NBCUniversal will remain in the pro wrestling business as well with the USA Network in possession of the broadcasting rights for Friday Night Smackdown through 2029. Episodes of the Blue Brand will also continue to stream on Peacock.

WWE also signed a media rights deal with The CW Network to broadcast new episodes of NXT every Tuesday night. It is unclear if Premium Live Events for the developmental brand will also be moving to ESPN DTC next year.

The unlimited plan for the new streaming app will cost $29.99 per month, giving subscribers access to all of ESPN’s linear networks. Bundling options with Disney+ and Hulu will also be available.