Amazon is very much interested in possibly acquiring the media rights to WWE programming, according to Freddie Prinze Jr.
WWE’s current deals with the USA Network and FOX will expire next year and it was the prospect of negotiating new deals that led to Vince McMahon returning to WWE in January.
Speaking on his “Wrestling With Freddie” podcast, Prinze Jr. revealed that he learned about Amazon’s interest in WWE programming while pitching his own promotion. He said,
“I know for a fact that Amazon is interested… because I was talking to them about my federation. That’s where I think it’s going to go. They’re gonna offer way more money [to WWE] than they offered me [laughs] that’s for sure. They’ve already jumped into the live sports format with NFL Thursday Night Football.”
Prinze Jr. noted that while a move to Amazon streaming could seriously limit WWE’s viewership, it would allow the company to produce more adult-themed content.
Prinze Jr, a former WWE writer, also addressed rumors of Disney showing interest in WWE programming, presumably as part of its ESPN branch. He said,
“That’s the concern for wrestling fans. If Disney has its hands on WWE, we were just trying to get to a more Rated-R type of content — even WWE has talked about it. And now you’re gonna go to a place where no adult content is allowed? Maybe it’s an extreme view on Disney, but they turn sports into soap operas.”
