ESPN Snatches WWE Premium Live From Peacock

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

ESPN today announced a five-year agreement with TKO Group Holdings to become the new exclusive TV carrier of all WWE Premium Live events, including WrestleMania, starting in 2026.

The WWE Premium Live events are currently available on Peacock. ESPN is expected to put the pro wrestling events on ESPN channels and/or the new $29.99 a month ESPN unlimited streaming app which launches August 21.

The deal has already stirred unrest among wrestling fans since Peacock’s basic plans with sports costs $10.99 a month while ESPN’s unlimited app cost nearly three times that. Today’s ESPN press release says the new ESPN streaming app “will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select (italics ours) simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms (ESPN channels).”

“WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the release.

“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. Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit,” added Nick Khan, president of the WWE.

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