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Netflix is finally set to enter the world of sports broadcasting after agreeing a deal to broadcast popular WWE show RAW from next year.
Monday Night RAW has been regarded as an institution in the United States since the first episode of the wrestling show aired on January 1993. It is currently the longest-running weekly episodic program in the U.S., with more than 1,600 consecutive Mondays on screen.
But after being ed between several different channels in its 31 years of life, it will leave traditional television and will make the leap to Netflix in 2025.
The streaming platform has already entered into the live sports business, but this is a paradigm shift and a new possibility for different sports events and competitions.
The agreement reached with TKO, the company that encomes WWE and MMA, will enable Netflix to exclusively broadcast RAW in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Latin America.
This deal is part of Netflix's new strategy to compete for live sports streaming. After producing and streaming several sports documentaries, the platform announced last month 'The Netflix Slam'.
Spanish tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal were chosen by Netflix for an exhibition match that will take place in Las Vegas on March 3, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
A transformational deal
Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO, described the deal as "transformative news" after striking an agreement with Netflix.
"It combines WWE's unmissable product with Netflix's extraordinary global reach and ensures significant and predictable economics for many years to come," Shapiro said.
"Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands WWE's reach and delivers weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix."
Since its debut in 1993, RAW has been home to the biggest stars in the sport, such as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, Triple H and John Cena.
It brings in an audience of 17.5 million unique viewers each year on USA Network, where it is currently shown, making it the network's most-watched show and one of the top-rated television programs in the 18-49 advertising demographic.