ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus recently sat down for an interview on the Sports Media program with Richard Deitsch, where he discussed the possibility of ESPN becoming a distributor for WWE events. While ESPN had previously passed on the opportunity, Magnus now believes that a deal between the two sides could be possible due to the overlap between WWE fans and ESPN viewers.
Magnus stated, “I believe our point of view towards WWE as a potential distribution outlet for their events, I think we passed that a long time ago and I think we’re now in the bucket of, hey, if their rights are available and there’s a deal for us that works and a deal for them that works with us, I think it’s certainly a possibility. There’s no hesitation anymore from a brand perspective or from a live event versus scripted. Their fans and our viewers, there’s tremendous overlap so, to me, it’s just about the business of it and is there something that works.”
However, Magnus also acknowledged the challenges of working with WWE, particularly their year-round schedule. He explained that ESPN’s existing rights agreements with other leagues make it difficult to accommodate WWE’s 52-week-a-year business on linear television. However, he did express openness to exploring digital options such as streaming, direct-to-consumer, or pay-per-view distribution.
WWE’s current broadcast partners in the United States are USA and FOX, with the Peacock app hosting the company’s library and live premium events.
While Magnus’s comments indicate a potential interest in working with WWE, it’s important to note that no official discussions or negotiations have taken place between ESPN and WWE at this time.
For more information on Burke Magnus’s interview, you can listen to the full episode of the Sports Media program with Richard Deitsch on Apple Podcasts.
Source: Post Wrestling
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