The world of professional wrestling is bracing itself for a major shake-up as All Elite Wrestling (AEW) prepares to renegotiate its media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery.
The outcome of these negotiations will have a significant impact on the future of Tony Khan’s promotion, and according to Dave Meltzer, it’s a situation that could go either way.
Meltzer, a renowned wrestling journalist, recently shared his insights on the Wrestling News Observer, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
With Warner Bros Discovery currently in negotiations with the NBA over a media rights deal, the stakes are high. Should NBC outbid WBD and secure the NBA rights, it could have far-reaching consequences for AEW.
On one hand, if WBD loses the NBA deal, they may be more inclined to invest in AEW as a means of filling the programming void left by the departure of the NBA. This could result in increased revenue for AEW and a stronger partnership with WBD.
However, Meltzer also pointed out that losing the NBA deal would likely lead to a significant reduction in carriage fees for TNT, which would ultimately reduce WBD’s revenue and subsequently, their ability to invest in AEW.
Regardless of the outcome, Meltzer believes that AEW will experience some form of loss. The loss of the NBA deal would downgrade TNT’s overall standing, making it a less desirable platform for AEW’s programming.
Furthermore, AEW has already suffered a blow with the loss of its multiyear contract with TelevisaUnivision, which was set to air their weekly shows on the ViX platform.
As Tony Khan prepares to sit down with WBD executives, he must navigate these complex factors to secure a deal that benefits AEW.
The fate of his promotion hangs in the balance, and only time will tell what the future holds for this young and ambitious wrestling company.
One thing is certain, however – the outcome of these negotiations will have a significant effect on AEW’s trajectory and its place in professional wrestling.
