WWE moving to Netflix in India: Report

SPNI currently holds the rights to broadcasts WWE in India

In January 2024, WWE announced that WWE’s flagship weekly program, Monday Night Raw was heading to Netflix on a ten-year deal for a whooping deal of more than USD 5 billion. 

As part of the deal, Netflix will be the new home for all WWE shows, including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and PLEs such as WrestleMania and Royal Rumble in key markets, including the US, Canada, the UK, and South America.

Starting from January 1, 2025, the WWE Network will shut down, with all its content shifting exclusively to Netflix. The WWE Network is an award-winning service that offers all premium live events, including WrestleMania, scheduled shows like Raw and SmackDown, and an extensive on-demand video library.

Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) is currently the official broadcaster for WWE regular programming, PLEs, and events. However, the deal which was made in 2020 where SPNI renewed the WWE media rights for an estimated $180-210 million over five years is set to expire in March 2025.

According to a report from the Economic Times, The Stamford-based promotion is preparing to transfer its media rights in India from SPNI to Netflix in March when the promotion deal with SPNI expires.

Netflix wants to maintain exclusivity in India

The report suggests that Sony Pictures Network India wants to retain the TV rights for WWE programs despite the global Netflix deal. This was because of the poor performance of the shows on digital platforms.

“SPNI has been keen to retain TV rights despite the global Netflix deal, according to people familiar with the matter, as the property didn’t perform well on the digital platform during the ongoing rights cycle. However, Netflix is determined to maintain exclusivity in the Indian market, they said.”

The partnership with the Stamford-based promotion marks the streaming giant’s entry into sports entertainment. The streaming platform has been investing in live sports globally in recent times.

The NFL and Netflix also finalized a three-year partnership last May, which includes streaming at least one Christmas Day game in 2025 and 2026.

“A Netflix India spokesperson confirmed that WWE content would be available on the platform starting in 2025. However, SPNI declined to comment on the matter.”

WWE has maintained a strong partnership in India, with its content featured on Ten Sports since 2002, and subsequently on Sony Ten, after SPNI acquired the network in 2016 for $385 million from Zee Entertainment.

How will the shift to “the new home” affect WWE’s programming and content? Where do you watch your favorite WWE content? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.