Fans in the United States will have a new way to watch WWE Premium Live Events next year.
WWE and ESPN announced a “landmark” rights agreement on Wednesday morning. The two parties revealed that all WWE Premium Live Events will now air exclusively on ESPN platforms in the United States. The agreement will begin in 2026. It includes every WWE PLE, including WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.
The agreement with includes the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service. The ESPN DTC service will stream all PLEs “annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms.” WWE will continue to produce each event. ESPN platforms, including the new DTC service, will also have the opportunity to stream WWE’s pre-and post-event show PLEs.
WWE and ESPN comment on the new PLE agreement
“WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
“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 renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN,” Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO, added. “Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be. And we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”
“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,” WWE President Nick Khan said. “Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.”
ESPN’s DTC offering will include ESPN’s full suite of networks and services, along with an enhanced ESPN App. The service will be available to all fans, whether they subscribe directly or through a cable / pay TV package. ESPN will launch its streaming service on August 21.
Read More: Karrion Kross Reflects On Near Meltdown Over Dropped Call With Triple H
