Summary
- WWE signs a five-year, $1.6 billion deal with ESPN
- All WWE Premium Live events will be transferred specifically to ESPN’s new streaming service in 2026
- The deal is a five-year agreement that will be between 2026 and 2030.
In a landmark agreement to reshape the sports entertainment environment, WWE A multi-year contract has been completed ESPNgrants Disney-owned companies exclusive domestic streaming rights to grant all WWE premium live events. The deal is worth $1.6 billion over five years, marking a strategic victory for WWE and a key move for ESPN’s ambitious new streaming service.
The agreement will begin in 2026 and will see all the big events of WWE – including WrestlemaniaSummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series – Fully moved to ESPN’s platform in the U.S., marking a significant shift in WWE’s current partnership with NBCuniversal’s Peacock, which will expire in March 2026. This move coincides with WWE’s distribution pattern, which is closer to ESPN Banner’s success.
For ESPN, the deal is the cornerstone of its new Direct Consumer (DTC) streaming service, which will be launched on August 21 for $29.99 per month. WWE’s “huge, pious and enthusiastic fan base” is a key attraction, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noted that joining WWE’s largest event will strengthen its content portfolio and “drive our streaming future.” “WWE has a huge, loyal and enthusiastic fan base, and we are excited to get super service on the new ESPN DTC platform. The agreement features the most important WWE events of the year, Bolsters Bolsters Bolsters Bolsters, our unprecedented portfolio of content and helps our streaming grow.” The agreement not only grants ESPN the rights to quality live events themselves, but also gives pre- and post-play content opportunities to fully integrate WWE into its sports media ecosystem. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO said, “We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowed for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we There may be experience firstthand how transformative an ESPN’s existence, we know this will be an outstanding partnership when both companies make huge innovations.”
This partnership is a larger, aggressive part of ESPN’s ability to secure high-profile live events rights ahead of its new streaming service. The company recently reached an agreement with the NFL that includes equity stakes in the league in exchange for media assets, and reportedly held talks with a new rights package for Major League Baseball. Therefore, the WWE deal positioned ESPN as a powerful force in the streaming war, leveraging a wide range of live sports and entertainment to attract a wide range of audiences.
While the deal was a huge financial success for WWE, it posed potential challenges for fans. The new ESPN streaming service is priced at $29.99 per month, with a significant increase in sales prices currently available for Peacock Unlimited Plan. However, the report shows that as part of its packaging, existing cable and satellite subscribers receiving ESPN may be able to access new WWE content at no additional cost for authentication. This development set the stage for a new era of WWE Watching, in which a dedicated platform becomes the exclusive residence for all the company’s largest events.
Breaking news: WWE Advanced Live Events Go to @epn The United States’ platform started in 2026 pic.twitter.com/ud4koiqybg
-WWE (@WWE) August 6, 2025
