“Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Will Kane speaks with actor and former WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about his involvement on the TKO board and his efforts to help Maui residents. , talks about the possibility of a political career.
One of Netflix's co-CEOs said Tuesday that the deal with WWE to air “Raw” and other pro wrestling content means the streaming giant is not changing its approach to live sports.
Ted Sarandos, who co-leads Netflix with Greg Peters, told analysts and investors that he “doesn't see this as a sign of other changes or changes in sports strategy.”
Under the agreement, WWE fans will be able to watch “Raw” on Netflix starting next year. According to a press release, the streaming giant will also offer “all WWE shows and specials” to international viewers.
WWE fans can watch 'Raw' on Netflix starting next year. (Chesnot/Getty Images)
He classified WWE as “sports entertainment” and said it is “best positioned for our sports business” with a focus on “the drama of sports.”
WWE's flagship program “RAW” will move to NETFLIX in January 2025
He also said the deal “has options, it has the protections we look for in a general license agreement, and it also has economics that we're very comfortable with globally.”
A sign outside World Wrestling Entertainment's former headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut (Johnny Milano/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The partnership is reportedly worth $5 billion. Sarandos said during the earnings call that Netflix is[esn’t] Please comment on the economics of our transaction. ”
| ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFLX | Netflix Co., Ltd. | 544.87 | +52.68 | +10.70% |
| TKO | TKO Group Holdings | 87.89 | -1.78 | -1.99% |
Netflix executives have said in multiple earnings calls that the company is focusing on “sports drama.”
Series such as “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “Full Swing,” and “Tour de France: Unchained” are often cited as examples of highly successful sports-adjacent content.
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Speculation about the direction of the company's live sports strategy and whether it could pursue sports rights emerged in October ahead of the Netflix Cup tournament, in which several F1 drivers and professional golfers will be paired to compete. . Sarandos similarly said, “There are no core changes to our live sports strategy, licensing or live sports.”
Partnership with WWE expected to 'add energy' [Netflix’s] According to the co-CEOs, it is a “new and growing advertising business” that “serves our desire to expand our live events program”.
WWE fans can watch 'Raw' on Netflix starting next year. (Jakub Porzycki/Nurfoto/Getty Images)
Netflix has two upcoming live shows: the SAG Awards and a showdown between tennis players Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
NETFLIX leans toward a strategy of “making old new again”
On the same day that Netflix and WWE announced the deal, WWE's parent company TKO Group Holdings also announced that it had added Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to its board of directors.
johnson “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Will Kane said: It was “a huge moment for me personally, a huge moment for my family, and I think it was a huge moment for us as well. [WWE President] Nick [Khan] And I am also a partner of TKO. ”
“Joining the board is a big announcement and I'm excited about the potential impact it will have, especially in a business that I love and that I know Nick loves this WWE and pro wrestling world. There were some big announcements that showed what was going on.”
Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
