Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has renewed its broadcast agreement with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) that keeps the professional sports brand’s flagship shows on WBD-owned channels for a few more years.
As part of the agreement, “AEW Dynamite” will continue to air Wednesdays on TBS and “AEW Collision” will maintain its Saturday time slot on TNT. In addition to its regular weekly broadcasts, both shows will also be offered through the streaming service Max, with live simulcasts from TBS and TNT as well as on-demand replays for subscribers in the United States. The simulcasts start in January.
The two companies will also collaborate on other initiatives, including distribution of clips and production of original programming for social media platforms. Max will also offer subscribers in the United States access to AEW pay-per-view events, with pricing expected to be revealed at a later date.
“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” Tony Khan, the CEO, General Manager and Head of Creative at AEW, said in a statement. “This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come.”
“Tony Khan and the entire AEW team have been incredible partners, and we are thrilled to strike this expanded agreement to deliver amazing new AEW content and stories to TNT and TBS, as well as bring the thrilling live action to Max for the first time,” Finch said this week. “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fan base while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”
Khan credited a number of WBD executives, including CEO David Zaslav and Head of U.S.-Based Networks Kathleen Finch, with supporting the AEW franchise since it began five years ago. Under prior ownership, TBS and TNT aired live professional wrestling from World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which was acquired by rival World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2001. WWE’s programming currently airs on Comcast-owned USA Network, though its flagship “Raw” program is moving to Netflix in January.
AEW has proven it can hold its own against its veteran rival WWE, pulling in more than 33 million fans to TBS and TNT through its shows this year, WBD said this week. AEW Dynamite is typically the top program on cable among the core demographic of adults between the ages of 18 and 49, and AEW Collision grabs high viewership among the same audience, according to Nielsen ratings.
The renewal of the AEW telecast agreement comes at a time when WBD is increasingly focused on incorporating more sports programming into its entertainment channels, with events and shoulder programming aired under the TNT Sports brand. It has long held the rights to regular-season and playoff games from Major League Baseball, and shares the rights to the annual NCAA March Madness tournament; over the past few years, it has also inked domestic telecast deals with NASCAR, the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Tournament, Bellator MMA, MotoGP and the Big East and Mountain West college conferences, among others.
