WWE lose Sky Sports deal to AEW

Bonefan32

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WWE reportedly lost a massive contract to AEW

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Sky Sports Italy is no longer interested in airing WWE's shows. The network has decided to part ways with the company after a two-decade-long relationship. The reasons for Sky Sports Italy calling it quits are a combination of the costs of the rights to air the shows, and the loss of viewers over the subsequent weeks.

It was also reported that Sky Sports Italy has struck a deal with AEW. The network has decided to air AEW Dynamite on Friday nights from July 31st. It was also mentioned that Sky had agreed to end its deal with WWE several months ago for the same reasons discussed above.

It was also reported that Sky did have some interest in re-signing with WWE after turning it down, but ended up signing a deal with AEW. Meltzer also noted that in the last year, WWE had lost its contract with Sky in Germany/Austria and the UK for the same reasons.

The WWE and AEW rivalry seems to be picking up with each promotion trying to outdo the other every week. Recently, when AEW announced a two-week special called Fyter Fest, WWE immediately said that it would have a two-week special of its own and revamped The Great American Bash.

There has been a lot of back and forth every week as far as ratings are concerned. If these reports are accurate and AEW does begin airing its show on Friday nights, AEW Dynamite will be going head-on with WWE SmackDown. In a recent interview, Cody spoke about introducing new shows, and maybe this deal will lead to that.
 

LastManStanding

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it’s Sky Sports Italy :skip:

Dave acting like it’s ESPN or something “MASSIVE CONTRACT” :pachaha:


Contracts come up every 3-5 years in television. Sometimes the networks renew, other times better offers come in for the producers of television. This isn’t newsworthy.
 

prophecypro

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This is similar to when Star TV which pretty opened WWE to all of Asia in the early 90s dropped them in the early to mid 00s for TNA cause Vince and them were asking too much

What is alarming for WWE was losing major deals with bigger channels overseas past 2 years, some their fault some not.

BT in the UK is cool but more people had access to Sky and BT was expensive to top up unless you got it seperate.
 

Kunty McPhuck

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it’s Sky Sports Italy :skip:

Dave acting like it’s ESPN or something “MASSIVE CONTRACT” :pachaha:


Contracts come up every 3-5 years in television. Sometimes the networks renew, other times better offers come in for the producers of television. This isn’t newsworthy.

But it's the 4th Sky-WWE TV deal not to be renewed within the last year. 1 not being renewed is isolated but 4 not being renewed and that's a trend. Looking more like a company wide business decision. What they are giving us isn't worth what they are asking for.
 

Sghost597

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Also, it's more cost effective have 2 hours of programing versuses accomdating for 5 hours.
 
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