DIS Partnerships

ESPN, WWE Reach Landmark Rights Agreement as ESPN Platforms Become Exclusive U.S. Domestic Home of All WWE Premium Live Events, Including WrestleMania, Starting in 2026

Published August 06, 2025 at 10:00 AM

BRISTOL, Conn. & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), today announced a landmark rights agreement as ESPN platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, starting in 2026. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile W

Related Questions

Will this agreement impact Disney's free‑to‑air ESPN network distribution or carriage fee negotiations with cable operators? How could this deal affect the broader competitive landscape for sports and entertainment rights across other broadcasters and OTT platforms? What are the potential upside or downside scenarios for the stock prices of DIS and TKO based on various performance metrics of the partnership? What are the financial terms of the deal, including rights fees and revenue sharing, and how will they impact WWE's (TKO) cash flow? What is the potential impact on Disney's streaming EBITDA margins given increased content costs for WWE programming? How does this agreement compare to WWE's existing broadcast partnerships and the terms of previous deals? "What are the risks related to the long‑term commitment (starting in 2026) such as changes in consumer viewing habits or competitive streaming offerings?" Will the exclusivity of WWE's Premium Live Events on ESPN lead to incremental ad‑sales or higher CPMs for Disney's ad business? How will the ESPN‑WWE rights deal affect Disney's (DIS) projected revenue and earnings guidance? Will the transition of WrestleMania and other marquee events to ESPN cause any cannibalization of WWE's existing media revenue streams? What is the expected subscriber growth for ESPN's new direct‑to‑consumer streaming service from the inclusion of WWE Premium Live Events? How might the partnership influence WWE's valuation multiples relative to peers in the sports entertainment sector?