In news that’s going to have some fans concerned about streaming WWE content, it’s been announced that all WWE content on Hulu will leave the streaming platform on Saturday, September 25th.
They’re nearing the end of their current next day rights deal, so the company is pulling it’s programming before the deal ends in a possible move to help current negotiations along.
According to Wrestlingnews.co (https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/wwe-programming-to-be-pulled-from-hulu-soon) , The WWE shows Raw, NXT, Main Event, Smackdown, Total Divas, Total Bellas, and more have the label “Exp. Sat” on them to notify subscribers they’re leaving.
Negotiations continue
Hulu and WWE and reportedly in talks to negotiate a new deal, and as we mentioned above pulling their programming could be a way to expedite a deal. Now whether WWE or Hulu are pulling them is another question.
Hulu has 46 million subscribers and is mainly owned by Disney at a 67% ownership, with NBCUniversal claiming the remaining percentage.
NBC Universal and WWE and longtime partners as they pay for the rights for Raw and NXT to be shown on the USA Network.
It’s fair to note that the WWE and Hulu have been working together for ten years, so it’s unlikely they’ll split and go their separate ways.
But if they do, where with the WWE go?
Going to Peacock?
One possibility for the WWE if they do leave Hulu would be going to Peacock to join their WWE Network content they have there.
It’d make things easier, and cheaper, for fans to have it all under one streaming service, but it’d mean the WWE will be putting all of their eggs in one basket and diversifying their deals helps ensure the company’s financial health while not beholding them to one group.
Of course, there are other streaming services out there like Netflix, Vudo, and so on. The problem would be to find a home where the WWE could feel comfortable and their fans can find them easy enough.
In a way, their billion dollar deal with Peacock removed some of their negotiating angle by removing their sole ownership and distribution possibilities.
The WWE is a major property and won’t have a problem finding a streaming home, but like we mentioned above, we don’t think they’re going anywhere.
Their history and partnership with Hulu and NBC Universal go back too far for them to risk that relationship, but there’s always a first time.
If WWE leaves Hulu, where do you think they’ll go? Let us know in the comments below.
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