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[Jethalal]

Peacock Becomes WWE Network Exclusive U.S. Streaming Distributor - Variety

NBCUniversal’s Peacock soon will be the only place to watch WWE Network in the U.S.
WWE and NBCU reached a multiyear agreement giving Peacock exclusive streaming rights to WWE Network for American viewers. The over-the-top wrestling entertainment service’s existing U.S. subscribers (about 1.1 million in total) will be migrated over to Peacock Premium, where they’ll continue to get access to WWE Network but will pay 50% less per month while getting full access to the version of the Peacock Premium tier with ads.

Peacock will launch WWE Network on March 18, 2021, when Peacock will begin the rollout of more than 17,000 hours of WWE Network new, original, and library programming (both on-demand and on a new 24-hour channel).

The NBCU streamer will have all WWE live events — for no additional charge — including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, with Fastlane the first event to stream on Peacock on Sunday, March 21. (WWE fans who would prefer to order events via traditional pay-per-view will still have that option.)

WWE Network will be available on Peacock Premium (which includes ads) for $4.99 per month, half the price of WWE Network’s current $9.99/month pricing. The no-commercials Peacock Premium Plus plan, which costs $9.99/month, also will include WWE Network.

The companies plans to share details of how existing WWE Network subscribers in the U.S. will be switched to Peacock (e.g., whether they will be automatically subscribed to Peacock) in the next few weeks. Nothing will change for WWE Network subscribers outside the U.S.

Financial terms of Peacock-WWE Network pact were not disclosed. “We feel great about the financials. Otherwise we wouldn’t have done the deal,” said Nick Khan, WWE’s president and chief revenue officer, who joined the company last August from CAA. “To have WrestleMania in particular — which is our Super Bowl — available [for no extra cost] on Peacock is quite different from other models you’re seeing.”

For Peacock, the WWE Network is “a transformative addition,” said Rick Cordella, Peacock’s EVP and chief revenue officer. “We have a lot of data that shows live events and sports drives a lot of user acquisition,” he said. “The bet is that there exists a much larger total available audience [for WWE programming] than is on WWE Network today.”

Starting in 2022, WWE will produce “one signature documentary annually” for the WWE Network on Peacock. Also available on WWE Network are about 100 hours of original series like “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions,” “Undertaker: The Last Ride” and the recently premiered “WWE Icons”; in-ring shows like NXT, NXT UK and WWE 205 Live, as well as replays of “Raw” and “SmackDown”; WWE Network archives, including every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view event in history; and documentaries including “WWE 24,” “WWE Untold” and “WWE 365.”

Seems like a big news? Any WWE fans here excited or sad? Seems like a cheaper deal with more benefits.

 

[ScythD]

I have Xfinity which includes Peacock premium, so this is great news. $9.99/month was always too pricey for all but the most hardcore fans, $4.99 + all the other Peacock content seems a lot more reasonable.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Ok potentially a game changer you are talking about 4.99 ppvs...

 

[OmegaSupreme]

I still won't give them a dime but that's cool for people who are fans.

 

[DKehoe]

WSJ saying this is for $1 billion over 5 years. All that money for this and the new TV deals despite record low ratings. Vince keeps failing upwards.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

WSJ saying this is for $1 billion over 5 years. All that money for this and the new TV deals despite record low ratings. Vince keeps failing upwards.

It's impressive. Them letting people go during the pandemic despite record profits is what sealed the deal for me. Fuck em. Bad shows aside lol.

 

[kunonabi]

Well no more wrestling for me.

 

[DKehoe]

It's impressive. Them letting people go during the pandemic despite record profits is what sealed the deal for me. Fuck em. Bad shows aside lol.

Letting people go when it was clear they were going to post record profits was really scummy.

 

[Nikana]

How the fuck does VInce keep falling into these deals? Like seriously...

The man is a genius or incredibly lucky.

 

[oagboghi2]

Why? The WWE is absolute garbage right now

 

[Brian Fellows]

For all 4 people that still watch wrestling?

 

[Rival]

Peacock is actually pretty great as an xfinity internet subscriber. I’ll take it.

 

[Ememee]

Yeah, the problem about the WWE network (even at a cheaper price) is having to watch the network.

 

[ArtemisClydeFrog]

For all 4 people that still watch wrestling?

 

[Kagey K]

Well shit. As someone who accesses the US WWE Network from Canada (because the Canadian Equivalent is shit and done through our cable providers.) I'm about to get fucked by this. Was rewatching from WM1 with my son, currently in 1996.

 

[Ovek]

Well shit. As someone who accesses the US WWE Network from Canada (because the Canadian Equivalent is shit and done through our cable providers.) I'm about to get fucked by this. Was rewatching from WM1 with my son, currently in 1996.

VPN to the UK one.

 

[Kagey K]

VPN to the UK one.

Might have to look into that.

 

[DESTROYA]

Stopped watching years ago and no way I’m spending money to watch now. AWE is good enough if I need a wrestling fix.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[EverythingsOverrated]

What exactly does that mean for people subscribed to WWE network as is? As long as I can continue my journey through the attitude era, I dont really give a shit

 

[The Hamburglar]

So they had 1.1 million paying 9.99 a month. Jesus that’s pathetic amount of revenue .
If this product was 1999 it would be over 10 world wide.