WWE signed a $1.625 billion deal with ESPN to move all of its Premium Live Events to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service starting in 2026, thus leaving Peacock. Now, Peacock’s offer to keep the Premium Live Events has been revealed.
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez explained that Peacock did make an offer to WWE, around $275 million per year. WWE was looking for a higher figure and ultimately accepted ESPN’s $325 million annual deal.
Alvarez noted that if Peacock had offered $400 million, WWE likely would have stayed. There were also talks about selling WrestleMania as a separate package, possibly keeping most events on Peacock but giving ESPN exclusive rights to WrestleMania; but in the end, WWE chose to move all Premium Live Events to ESPN.
“Peacock did make an offer, and I guess the offer was allegedly in the neighborhood of about $275 million a year. WWE wanted more, obviously, and they ended up getting the $325 million, which is why they went to ESPN over Peacock. Obviously, if Peacock had offered $400 million a year, they would have stayed, but they didn’t.
Apparently, they were also potentially shopping around WrestleMania as a separate deal. For example, they might have been willing to stay with Peacock but give ESPN WrestleMania for a set amount per year. That was something that was discussed, but they ended up going all in with ESPN.”
The new deal ends WWE’s partnership with Peacock, which has streamed Premium Live Events since 2021. From 2026, these events will be shown only on ESPN’s new streaming service. WWE believes this will help reach more fans and make the viewing experience better with ESPN’s technology and coverage.
However, the service will cost $29.99 a month and that didn’t really sit well with a lot of fans, who threatened to use VPNs. Regardless, Peacock simply couldn’t match or beat ESPN’s offer, so we’ll just have to see whether WWE’s partnership with ESPN will turn out to be a success when all is said and done.
What do you think? Was WWE right to take ESPN’s higher offer, or should they have stayed with Peacock for fan convenience? Sound off in the comments.
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