By The Related Press
ESPN introduced a partnership with WWE, together with the streaming rights to WrestleMania, on the heels of an settlement with the NFL.
In a deal introduced Wednesday, ESPN turns into the U.S. home dwelling for WWE Premium Reside Occasions. WrestleMania can be a part of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service beginning in 2026.
The deal comes a day after the NFL and ESPN entered right into a nonbinding settlement. Beneath the phrases, ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Firm, will purchase NFL Community, NFL Fantasy and the rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite tv for pc operators and the league will get a ten% fairness stake in ESPN.
Along with WrestleMania, WWE’s Premium Reside Occasions embody Royal Rumble, Survivor Sequence and Cash within the Financial institution.
“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,” Nick Khan, president of WWE, mentioned in a press release. “Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.”
Added Jimmy Pitaro, the chairman of ESPN: “This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
ESPN is predicted to launch its direct-to-consumer service earlier than the top of September. The service would give shoppers entry to all ESPN packages and networks for $29.99 monthly.
