What would it mean for AEW if their relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery was to end next year?
Since launching, AEW has been allied with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT and TBS. Tony Khan has shown immense loyalty to WBD and when looking for a TV deal for Ring of Honor, only approached WBD-owned broadcasters.
AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery
WWE is currently on the hunt for a new broadcast partner for Monday Night Raw, with the red brand’s deal with the USA Network set to expire next year. With the USA Network set to become the home of SmackDown, it is believed that the network will not renew its deal with Raw. Speaking on his Rumor & Innuendo podcast, Nick Hausman addressed what could be next for AEW’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery if talks with WWE prove fruitful.
“From what I gathered, Tony was getting quite a big part of the ad revenue for Dynamite early on, which when the new people came in [after WBD merger], they were like, ‘Whoa, how did you get this deal? We don’t really want to continue on with this, If this is going to be the ad rev share that we’re going to be doing’ So you’ve got that. You’ve got the NBA stuff.
“I also have been told by a couple people for months, that there is the belief that Warner has some kind of investment in AEW. Tony has 100% control of the company, but at a certain point, Warner made some kind of investment I’m speculating, guessing maybe to recoup a little bit of what they were losing with the ad share.
“So while I don’t, well again….it was told to me that this meeting that appears to be what Dave is referencing [between WWE and WBD], and got everybody all worked up about did not happen. There are other indicators to me that things are not going maybe as Tony is projecting publicly, and I would not be surprised to see AEW and Warner may be part ways next year.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
