Wrestling On FanNation

UPDATED: AEW Signs Multi-Year Deal With Warner Bros. Discovery [DETAILS]

Dariel Figueroa

Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

[UPDATE - 4:21 PM EST]

AEW's social media just began rolling out the official announcement that Tony Khan's upstart wrestling promotion has signed a "multi-platform, multi-year" deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. AEW's Dynamite and Collision will continue to air on TBS and TNT and will also simulcast on MAX for US subscribers beginning in January 2025, with on-demand available. AEW PPVs will also get a discounted rate for MAX subscribers.

Full press release below.

Warner Bros. Discovery & AEW to Establish New Era of Professional Wrestling with Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Media Rights Renewal

WBD Networks to Continue to Be Home to Fan-Favorites AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision, with Simulcast Streaming on Max for First Time Starting January 2025

AEW Pay-Per-View Events to Be Distributed on Max at Discounted Price For Subscribers

Warner Bros. Discovery and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) today announced a multi-year renewal of their highly successful five-year relationship with an expansive multi-platform media rights agreement that will provide fans with the widest available access ever to AEW’s most popular programming.

WBD’s networks and platforms will remain the exclusive home of AEW Dynamite (Wednesdays on TBS) and AEW Collision (Saturdays on TNT), with enhanced distribution rights across social platforms as well as building opportunities for additional AEW programming for linear and digital platforms in the future. 

Additionally, for the first time, all AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision programming starting January 2025 will stream live exclusively on Max (U.S. subscribers only). All AEW programming airing on WBD’s networks will also be available to stream on demand on Max.

AEW and WBD will also collaborate to distribute AEW live pay-per-view events on Max at a discounted price per event, with all marketing and promotions of those PPV events exclusively centered on Max. AEW PPV distribution on Max will begin later in 2025, with additional information and pricing to be shared in the coming months.

“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,” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and CEO of US Networks, WBD.  “We are focused on creating fresh and authentic experiences for AEW’s passionate and engaged fanbase while also introducing them to our growing lineup of high-action sports and entertainment at TNT and beyond.”

“We are honored to announce the extension of our incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan. “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.  We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”

Since its inaugural year in 2019, AEW has collaborated with WBD to build a next-generation, pro-wrestling franchise with captivating stories, dynamic and diverse characters, and energetic events all year round. AEW programming has reached more than 33 million fans this year across TBS and TNT, with AEW Dynamite on TBS ranking as Wednesday’s cable entertainment program among P18-49. AEW Collision also ranks among the top 5 programs in its Saturday time slot among P18-49 and M18-49.

The addition of AEW’s popular programming on Max adds to an already robust slate of live programming available to U.S. subscribers, including CNN Max — a 24/7 live news stream featuring live news and programming, and in-depth reporting of all of the biggest news each day and the upcoming U.S. election cycle from CNN’s global news team; and, the B/R Sports Add-on, featuring live coverage of the upcoming MLB postseason, NHL and NBA regular seasons, NCAA Men's March Madness, US Men’s & Women’s National Team soccer matches, Bellator MMA, Mountain West college football, MotoGP, FIA World Endurance Championship, world cycling, and — in 2025 — NASCAR, Roland-Garros tennis, and BIG EAST men’s and women’s college basketball.

On Wednesday (October 2) morning, Fightful Select received word that the full details of AEW's new TV rights package are "imminent" and will likely be released later in the day.

Tony Khan and the AEW machine have been hard at work this year, of course, discussing a TV rights package with multimedia heavyweights including WBD and Fox.

MORE: 10 Best AEW Matches of All Time

In late September, it was reported that AEW and WBD were targeting a deal for three guaranteed years, with an optional fourth, somewhere north of $150 million per year. In that scenario, TNT and TBS would still play home to AEW programming, while TruTV would be thrown in the mix somehow. MAX was to figure into plans as well, perhaps as a hub for AEW PPVs or other premium offerings, although precise details have thus far been scarce.

Wednesday's Fightful Select post shared early details, stating that "AEW Dynamite and Collision will be simulcast on Max starting in January" while MAX subscribers will have access to premium AEW events. There's no news on TruTV's involvement yet, or how AEW Rampage will factor into programming if at all.

MORE: Dr. Britt Baker Faces Many Unknowns About Her Future as AEW Dynamite Celebrates Five Year Anniversary [Exclusive]

Published |Modified
Dariel Figueroa
DARIEL FIGUEROA

Dariel Figueroa joined On SI and The Takedown in 2024. He previously served as senior features writer at Uproxx, and has written for Heavy, Fansided, and Paste. Figueroa graduated with a double bachelor’s from Rowan University in journalism and multimedia production, respectively. You can follow him on X (fmr. Twitter) @figgyflow.

Home/AEW