Inside Details on the AEW Deal With TNT: Who’s Paying for Production?

AEW’s deal with the TNT network is making all of the headlines in pro wrestling right now and with good reason. The brand new promotion is starting from the ground up and already AEW has a major television platform beginning in the fall of 2019.

But The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which is available by subscription, is giving more inside details on the AEW deal and it’s much more lucrative than many fans perhaps believed.

Evidently TNT’s parent company, WarnerMedia, is paying for AEW’s production. Neither side has revealed how much that production will cost, but it’s important for the industry because no other wrestling companies have such a deal in place.

In fact WWE doesn’t have that deal with the USA Network. Vince McMahon’s company covers the cost for TV production and the same is true for other combat sport promotions, such as the UFC. It’s worth noting that by paying for their own costs, both WWE and UFC maintain control of the televised product. That will perhaps not  be the case in AEW.

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The Observer also reported on another incentive, which is ad revenue.

There is also an ad revenue split with a downside guarantee. So the final value of the deal will be directly related to ad rates and attractiveness of the product, as well as in the long run, the ratings. This behooves AEW to do an advertiser friendly show.

AEW is also expected to produce content for other social media platforms like YouTube and another WarnerMedia company, Bleacher Report. BR/Live will carry AEW’s pay-per-views, including May 25’s Double or Nothing event in Las Vegas.

Breaking News – @AEWrestling to air on @TNTDrama #AEW pic.twitter.com/movdS7UKgk

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) May 15, 2019