WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), one of the most popular global sports entertainment franchises, is set to make a landmark change in its broadcasting rights. While Sony Sports Network has long been the home of WWE in India, fans are about to witness a major shift. Starting January 2025, Netflix will take over WWE’s media rights as part of a massive global agreement.
This historic 10-year deal, valued at $5 billion, was signed by WWE’s parent company, TK0 Group Holdings, and Netflix earlier this year. It represents Netflix’s bold entry into sports entertainment, aiming to tap into WWE’s massive worldwide following, including India. Major WWE events like Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and Premium Live Events (PLEs) will now be streamed on Netflix in key markets like the USA, UK, Canada, South America, and India.
Currently, Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) holds WWE’s broadcasting rights in India. Their deal, which was renewed in 2020 for $120–180 million over five years, is set to expire in March 2025. During the overlap period from January to March 2025, fans can watch WWE on both Sony Sports Network and Netflix. However, after March, Netflix will become the sole platform to stream WWE in India.
This change marks a strategic play by Netflix to expand its footprint in India’s growing streaming market. With just 12 million subscribers in India, Netflix is banking on WWE’s 900 million global fans to boost its numbers. WWE, which has a strong Indian audience, surpassed one million viewers this year. For Netflix, this partnership is expected to attract a significant share of WWE’s loyal fanbase, many of whom are accustomed to traditional television.
However, Netflix faces tough competition in the Indian sports streaming space from giants like Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, which dominate with events like the IPL and ICC tournaments. Meanwhile, the loss of WWE is a significant blow to SPNI, where it has been a cornerstone of its sports programming.
