In an attempt to bring more content to its streaming service, Peacock, NBCUniversal has bought the streaming rights to the WWE content library. Which means that NBCUniversal is forcing the WWE Network to shut down – in the US at least.
The deal, which was announced today, brings the massive video content library from the WWE Network to Peacock. Reportedly, NBCUniversal spent $1 billion on this acquisition.
According to the WWE, all of its current and future content will be available to stream on Peacock starting on March 18. This includes PPVs like Wrestlemania 37, which is taking place on April 10 and 11 this year. The second year in a row that it’ll be a two-day event.
This deal is set for five years, and there’s no word yet on how this deal will affect other markets that have the WWE Network.
WWE Network will shut down in the US later this quarter
Because of this deal, the WWE Network will be shutting down operations in the US later this quarter.
The WWE Network has had some issues in recent years with adding more subscribers, and adding more content to its service. Sure, it has a huge library thanks to it buying WCW and ECW in the early 2000s. But as for new content, there’s really not a whole lot available. And just a PPV every month makes $9.99/month a tough ask.
This is a big deal for both NBCUniversal and the WWE. For NBCUniversal, it gets a lot of new content for its network, and a way to gain new subscribers for Peacock. Which has been flailing since it launched in July 2020. It currently boasts 26 million subscribers, but where Comcast users get it for free, it’s unclear how many of those are actually paying.
Peacock costs $4.99 for ad-support and $9.99 for a ad-free experience. Which makes it cheaper than the WWE Network. However, there is a belief that the WWE content including PPVs might only be available on the more expensive Peacock plan – Peacock Premium Plus. As that is where you already see more premium content available. We’ll learn more “at a later date” though.