WWE reported $1.398 billion in revenue for 2024, with a notable drop in Q4 earnings influenced by expiring media rights contracts. TKO executives highlighted a 13% increase in WWE Raw’s Netflix viewership and announced plans for three events in Saudi Arabia in 2026. Future programming on Netflix and potential expansions in Australia were also discussed.
Following the release of its fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings report, TKO executives conducted a conference call with the media. WWE President Nick Khan participated in the call, providing key highlights regarding WWE’s performance and future plans. WWE generated revenues of $1.398 billion, while UFC slightly surpassed this with $1.406 billion. The fourth quarter alone accounted for $298.3 million in revenue, although this reflects a decline of $32.9 million year-over-year due to decreased media rights fees stemming from the expiration of WWE Raw’s contract with NBCUniversal in September, coupled with the delay in the Netflix deal until January.
Mark Shapiro, TKO’s head, stated that WWE Raw’s viewership had increased by 13% on Netflix compared to the previous year on USA. Additionally, he noted that NXT has significantly improved ratings on the CW Network, with a 12% increase from its prior performance on USA. WWE President Nick Khan confirmed that Netflix is interested in acquiring more WWE content, indicating that additional programming is expected to be released soon.
TKO’s CFO Andrew Schleimer indicated plans for three WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) to be hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2026. This expansion comes after only one event is scheduled for 2025, with the Royal Rumble already advertised as one of the 2026 events. Furthermore, TKO is exploring opportunities to host more events in Australia over the next few years. It was also mentioned that the integration of various departments of WWE and UFC has successfully achieved their financial target of $100 million in savings.
In conclusion, WWE has reported substantial revenues for 2024 despite a decline in Q4 earnings due to media rights transitions. The increase in viewership on Netflix and the successful integration of WWE and UFC departments highlight the company’s strategic growth. Additionally, future plans include significant events in Saudi Arabia and Australia, signaling WWE’s focus on international expansion and network partnerships. The commitment to expanding content options on Netflix further reflects WWE’s adaptive strategies in the evolving media landscape.
Original Source: ewrestling.com
