A new update has emerged regarding AEW’s television future following the advancing deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Netflix recently filed an updated proxy statement tied to its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. While the massive filing did not directly mention AEW by name, details buried in the 519 page document strongly suggest that AEW’s current television situation will remain stable once the deal is finalized.
The company has been with WarnerMedia since 2019 and signed a multi-year extension last year to keep its programming on TNT, TBS, and streaming on HBO Max. That agreement runs through 2027 or possibly 2028, depending on whether a contract option is exercised.
According to new report from The Hollywood Reporter, AEW’s rights are expected to stay with Warner Bros. Discovery’s “Global Linear Networks” division even after the Netflix acquisition closes. This means that AEW Dynamite will continue airing on TBS, Collision will remain on TNT.
The shows and pay per view will continue streaming on HBO Max for the duration of the current deal. This effectively confirms that AEW is not immediately impacted by Netflix becoming the home of WWE programming. Longer term, once AEW’s current deal expires, its programming is expected to move off HBO Max and onto the upcoming Turner Sports streaming platform.
There is also the possibility of a split arrangement, where different AEW properties stream on different platforms. One key detail from the report notes that Warner Bros. Discovery owns a minority stake in AEW, which will remain with the Global Linear Networks business following the sale.
AEW is majority owned by Tony Khan, with financial backing from the Khan family. The company has always been classified under WBD’s entertainment division rather than its sports division. This helps explain why AEW’s rights are staying separate from WWE and UFC deals tied to Netflix.
When Turner’s AEW deal expires, HBO Max is unlikely to fight hard to retain it. Netflix already carries WWE content, so it has little reason to add AEW. If HBO Max is integrated into Netflix, AEW may not be eligible carry its programming at all. As it suggest that WWE’s parent company, TKO, included a noncompete clause in its Netflix deal.
For now, it’s clear that Tony Khan’s company’s television and streaming presence is secure for several more years, despite the shifting media landscape. Any major changes are unlikely before the current contract nears its end.
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