Tony Khan Discusses Current AEW Ratings – As the cable television landscape continues to fragment, AEW is navigating the transition by embracing streaming — and seeing some notable gains in the process.
Earlier this year, AEW began simulcasting its programming on HBO Max, aligning with a broader shift in wrestling media as WWE prepared to move RAW to Netflix. While traditional networks lose traction, AEW’s move has helped stabilize and even grow viewership in the short term.
According to Nielsen data, AEW Collision viewership rose 25% in Q2 compared to Q1 2025, while Dynamite improved 6.5%. These figures only reflect linear TV audiences and don’t include streaming numbers from HBO Max, which have yet to be made public. AEW CEO Tony Khan addressed the growth, particularly in the key 25-to-54 demographic. “We’ve been picking up traction in these key demos,” Khan told Business Insider, noting that most younger viewers are tuning in via streaming.
Despite the recent rebound, year-over-year comparisons tell a more complex story. Collision is still down 9% compared to the same time last year, while Dynamite has dropped 12%. Still, Khan remains confident in AEW’s future, pointing to its $185 million media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which includes programming on TBS and TNT along with the new HBO Max deal.
“The lifeblood of AEW, really, is the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” Khan said, emphasizing the company’s dual presence on both streaming and cable platforms. While AEW maintains a strong digital footprint on YouTube and TikTok to boost engagement, Khan stressed that the primary focus remains on full-event viewing. “People want to watch the full event in its entirety, but also consume highlights on digital,” he said.
AEW also sets itself apart by not giving away premium matches on social media or YouTube — a growing trend among some competitors. Instead, its social content is carefully curated around shows, providing pre- and post-show material without undermining live broadcasts.
With WBD reportedly planning to spin off HBO Max from its core cable properties, questions have emerged about AEW’s long-term positioning. However, Khan brushed aside those concerns, stating that AEW is “very well entrenched” across WBD’s platforms and enjoys a “great partnership with both sides.”
Tony Khan Discusses Current AEW Ratings
