Tony Khan on AEW’s Complex Negotiations with Warner Brothers Discovery
In the midst of strategic discussions, AEW’s Tony Khan highlights the evolving partnership with Warner Brothers Discovery, underscoring the importance in their collaboration and the potential for future boom.
Since its debut on American television in October 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has been a staple on TNT and TBS, thanks to its a hit partnership with Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD). The flagship display, Dynamite, airing on Wednesdays, has been complemented through extra programming like Rampage and Collision, all hosted on WBD’s networks. As AEW steps into 2024, a pivotal yr for the company, it reveals itself within the midst of essential negotiations for a new rights deal for U.S. Tv insurance. The exclusivity period between AEW and Warner Brothers Discovery is reportedly coming to an quit, including an extra layer of intensity to these discussions.
Tony Khan Reflects on AEW’s Television Success
Tony Khan, the president of AEW, recently shared insights into the continued negotiations with WBD for the duration of an appearance at the Battleground podcast. His comments found out the depth and complexity of these discussions, whilst additionally celebrating AEW’s achievements and the fruitful partnership with Warner Brothers Discovery.
“It’s such an exciting time for AEW,” Khan stated. “We’re in great conversations with our partners at Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s a real blessing to me, and I think to everyone in AEW, that we’re able to put wrestling on TBS and TNT every week. When I grew up, and I think for you guys too growing up, wrestling on TBS and TNT was a big part of our childhoods. There was no wrestling on TNT for about 18 years and there was no wrestling on TBS for over 20 years, so it meant a lot to bring that back.”
Khan emphasized the historical significance of wrestling on TBS, which dates back over 50 years. “I love it here. And so we’re having great talks. It means the world to be able to do this. We’re in very deep, exciting conversations. There’s a lot to figure out because we have these great shows with AEW Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision.”
AEW’s Ratings and Future Prospects
Khan also highlighted AEW’s recent ratings success, which underscores the company’s growing influence in the wrestling world. “Our prime time shows [Dynamite and Collision]… we’ve been doing great, great ratings with our flagship shows. And it’s a really exciting time. Like I said, this past week both shows did their biggest numbers in months. So it’s an exciting time for us to hit new highs. The conversations are awesome right now.”
The negotiations, however, are not without their complexities. “There’s a lot to figure out with the AEW TV shows, our pay-per-view content, our streaming library, and all of these things,” Khan explained. “So it’s a lot of very complex conversations, but they’ve been great. And we’re having great talks with Warner Bros. Discovery now. And it’s a great partnership and we’re very fortunate to be here and it’s a great place, for wrestling in particular — TBS and TNT.”
The Future of AEW and Warner Brothers Discovery
Despite the tremendous outlook shared through Khan, there have been conflicting reviews about the progress of AEW’s negotiations with WBD. The precise timing of whilst a brand new deal is probably introduced stays unsure. This uncertainty provides an detail of suspense to the destiny of AEW’s tv presence and its strategic path.
Khan’s remarks underscore the importance of the partnership with Warner Brothers Discovery and the high stakes involved in the ongoing negotiations. The potential for expanding AEW’s reach and solidifying its place in the wrestling world hinges on the outcome of these discussions.
