WWE’s Deal with ESPN Raises Questions About Peacock’s Streaming Future

The recent five-year, $1.6B deal between ESPN and WWE has left fans wondering about the future of Peacock. According to a column by Tony Maglio of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, WWE’s premium live events will no longer be streaming on Peacock, as they are making the switch to the upcoming ESPN service. This change comes at a time when Peacock is already facing challenges and planning a significant price increase.

NBCUniversal had previously lost the rights to WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” to Netflix, further impacting Peacock’s offerings. However, Peacock still retains the rights to air “SmackDown,” albeit with some changes. Currently, “SmackDown” airs live on USA Network and becomes available on-demand on Peacock the following day. With USA Network’s transition to Versant, the long-term future of this arrangement is uncertain.

Despite these setbacks, Peacock is not completely out of the game. The addition of NBA games in October could attract a new audience and help retain subscribers. Maglio pointed out that while losing WWE premium live events may result in some cost savings, the checks being cut to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for NBA rights may balance out the financial impact. Additionally, Peacock still holds the rights to “Sunday Night Football,” with one exclusive Week 17 matchup available on the platform.

In conclusion, while the ESPN-WWE deal raises questions about Peacock’s future in the streaming world, the platform still has some strong content offerings that may attract and retain viewers in the long run.