WWE Raw debuted on Netflix this week, and the number of viewers for the wrestling business was impressive.
The deal between the streaming giant and the WWE is reportedly worth around $5 billion over a ten-year period and will also include the live stream of the weekly Smackdown shows, as well as various annual pay-per-views, including Wrestlemania and Royal Rumble.
Raw was watched live by 4.9 million people worldwide, averaging 2.6 million households. While the figure might not seem huge given the success of other shows such as Ozark and Squid Game, it’s worth bearing in mind that the viewing figures are approximately double what the WWE would typically get for a Monday night show.
Another thing to consider is that although WWE Raw is broadcast primetime in the United States, it falls in the early hours of the morning in Europe. Most people from the UK and nearby regions will not be able to watch live and will view the show at a later date during a time that suits their schedule.
Since the WWE and the UFC merged last year under the TKO name in a bumper deal worth $21.4 billion, the publicly listed company are now working more closely with each other. Interestingly, the UFC’s broadcast deal with ESPN is due to expire at the end of 2025. The UFC President, Dana White, is likely in the process of securing a long-term rights deal with a broadcast partner for the world’s biggest MMA organization.
TKO and the UFC will be keeping a close eye on the retention figures for WWE on Netflix, and if the numbers continue to impress, it’s possible that the UFC could end up on the streaming service as early as 2026. Should that happen, would the UFC attract bigger numbers than the more family-friendly WWE? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
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