According to a new report, Warner Bros. Discovery recently made AEW another offer. Sources say the offer is at least double AEW’s current deal.
AEW’s media rights are coming up this year. The company has been negotiating with Warner Bros. Discovery for a new deal. As previously reported, AEW’s Tony Khan was set to meet with WBD’s David Zaslav in Paris during the Olympics.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that WBD sources confirmed that there is some “red tape” to deal with. However, these sources said that another offer for a long-term deal was recently made, and they were very confident in it. Sapp writes that Khan’s meeting with Zaslav was said to be considered productive, and the offer came after that.
Sapp cites one WBD source who called the offer “extensive” and said that it was in AEW’s hands. AEW is reviewing the offer, and both sides seem to be optimistic about reaching a deal. There is no word on when an announcement could come.
The report also cites sources who say that AEW has been offered “at least double” the amount of their previous deal, though the meaning was unclear. The exact numbers for the latter are unavailable. It is also important to note that the existing deal has substantially evolved over the duration.
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Per Sapp, sources say that “any and all combinations and possibilities” regarding AEW’s programming lineup have been explored. Furthermore, Sapp references rumors that WBD had discussed a “shift in PPV strategy” regarding AEW, but they did not respond to comment. As previously noted, WBD reps had said that Max was in mind when they negotiated any deal, and WBD had inquired about possibly putting AEW pay-per-views on Max as of last year.
Sapp writes that sources on both sides have claimed that they have had ongoing discussions about reaching a new deal, adjusting the current one, and working together in the future since last year. Per Sapp, sources on both sides expect the relationship to continue for years.
AEW’s deal currently runs through the end of the year. WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
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