WWE Strikes Groundbreaking Deal to Move PLEs to ESPN in 2026 – WWE is making a major broadcast shift that will reshape the way fans in the United States watch its premium live events. Beginning in 2026, all of WWE’s flagship events — including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble — will stream exclusively on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform as part of a landmark five-year agreement.
A New Era for WWE Streaming
As first reported by CNBC, the deal is valued at an average of $325 million per year, totaling $1.625 billion over five years. This represents a significant leap from WWE’s previous domestic streaming arrangement with NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which was reportedly worth $180 million annually.
Under the new partnership, 10 WWE premium live events each year will stream in the U.S. through ESPN’s upcoming $29.99-per-month streaming service. In addition, select events will also simulcast on ESPN’s linear television channels, providing even broader reach.
Executive Reactions Highlight the Importance of the Deal
Top executives from both companies hailed the agreement as a transformative moment:
- Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, praised WWE’s passionate fanbase and emphasized how the addition of WWE’s top events “bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”
- Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group Holdings, said the partnership is perfectly aligned with ESPN’s expansion and called WWE events “cultural tentpole experiences” that fit naturally alongside other top sports programming on the network.
- Nick Khan, President of WWE, described the agreement as a “pivotal moment” for fans, stating, “The leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media… we know the sky is the limit.”
Impact on WWE’s Streaming Future
The move to ESPN represents a dramatic evolution in WWE’s media strategy. Since 2021, WWE content has been available in the U.S. on Peacock as part of NBCUniversal’s streaming offering. That deal is set to expire in 2026, at which point ESPN will take over the exclusive domestic rights to WWE’s premium live events.
For fans, the transition means a shift from an all-inclusive service like Peacock to a more premium-priced standalone sports platform, signaling ESPN’s broader push into direct-to-consumer content and reflecting the growing value of WWE’s product in the streaming market.
ESPN issued the following:
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
ESPN’s Direct-to-Consumer Service to Stream All WWE Premium Live Events in their Entirety, Including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank and More
BRISTOL, Conn. and STAMFORD, Conn. (August 6, 2025)—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 WWE events of the year.
The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and Summe
Stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude, WA.Com On Facebook, Twitter/X, Bluesky and Google News for more.
WWE Strikes Groundbreaking Deal to Move PLEs to ESPN in 2026
