All Elite Wrestling has been enjoying a solid partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, but both parties are currently negotiating a new contract.
While a new media rights deal has yet to be finalized, AEW President Tony Khan remains confident about the partnership and optimistic about signing a new contract with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Following the loss of the NBA to TNT, Warner Bros. Discovery is interested in acquiring a sports franchise. However, it appears AEW is no longer the frontrunner for this role.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that TNT has proactively secured five significant sports deals, including events such as Mountain West football, College Football playoff games, Big East Conference basketball, the French Open, and several NASCAR races.
These ventures and existing coverage of March Madness, the NHL, and Major League Baseball outline a diverse and comprehensive sports content strategy. The acquisition of the French Open rights, valued at $65 million annually until 2034, highlights TNT’s commitment to reinforcing its sports offerings.
Furthermore, there are signs that TNT may be interested in acquiring UFC rights, although ESPN is seen as a better fit.
If TNT does acquire UFC rights, it may need to make changes to its current schedule, which includes pushing AEW Collision to a different day or timeslot.
While it’s possible that the UFC rights could be split between different TV networks, it’s unlikely that the UFC will return to television pay-per-view, as ESPN+ is in a strong position to secure good pay-per-view deals.
It remains to be seen whether a suitable agreement can be reached between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery.
