WWE was involved in intense television rights talks throughout 2023, and while 2/3 of their deals closed, RAW remained a big mystery. Now, we know what is to come for the red brand, and it’s going behind one of the largest paywalls online.
WWE RAW is Moving to Netflix
The company sent out a media blast today to announce that, starting in January 2025, Netflix will exclusively host Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Latin America, with more territories to follow over time.
Under this agreement, Netflix will also be the destination for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and Premium Live Events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble. Additionally, WWE’s documentaries, original series, and upcoming projects will be accessible on Netflix internationally starting in 2025.
Other Suitors For WWE RAW
WWE landing a deal with Netflix is quite surprising. There were other potential partners in the mix.
Amazon Prime and FX were also in the running. Rumors about Warner Brothers Discovery wanting the red brand were also rampant. That was incredibly interesting, considering AEW’s place on that network.
In recent weeks, WBD has been giving AEW more love, while crediting them for success in press releases, so the thought was that they were no longer on the table for RAW. Now, Netflix has swooped in as the winner, surprising everyone in the process, because their name wasn’t a part of any report or commentator’s breakdown of the situation.
WWE’s Other Media Rights Deals
WWE NXT will go to The CW in October 2024, and SmackDown is going to the USA Network. Those two moves will see fans tune into a more traditional viewing platform. Those watching RAW will need to pay a monthly subscription fee.
How Many Subscribers Netflix Has
Netflix has a global paid subscriber base exceeding 247.15 million as of Q3 2023. This marks an uptick of 8.76 million subscribers from the previous quarter, showcasing a solid recovery following the loss of 1.17 million subscribers in the first half of 2022.
How Much Is A Netflix Subscription?
Netflix provides different subscription plans with varying monthly prices. The Standard with Ads plan is available at $6.99, with no extra charge for an additional member. The Standard plan, without ads, is priced at $15.49 per month. Adding an extra member incurs an additional charge of $7.99, resulting in a total of $23.48 for one extra member.
The Premium plan, costing $22.99 per month, includes advanced features. Adding an extra member comes with a $7.99 charge, making the total $30.98 for one extra member. Opting for two extra members increases the total cost to $38.97.