WWE signs deal with BT Sport, ending 30+ year relationship with Sky

WWE has announced a new multi-year exclusive pay TV agreement with BT Sport in the UK and Ireland, ending the wrestling company’s association with Sky of over three decades.

WWE’s flagship shows – Raw and Smackdown – will move to BT sport beginning January 2020.

“We are incredibly excited by our new partnership with WWE. It is the most successful sports entertainment brand in the world, with a rich, fun and colorful history, loved by fans across the UK and Ireland. This is a brilliant addition for our customers and we can’t wait to get going in January,” said Andy Haworth, managing director content and strategy, BT Consumer.  

Stefan Kastenmüller, WWE senior vice president and group general manager, EMEA, said: “We are pleased to begin an exciting new chapter for WWE in the region as we join BT Sport’s innovative offering and impressive portfolio of premium sports content.”  

WWE’s monthly pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania, will be available on BT Sport Box Office. BT Sport will also carry same day primetime re-airs of Raw on Tuesdays and SmackDown on Saturdays, a two-hour version of Raw, one-hour version of Raw and one-hour version of SmackDown across its portfolio of channels.

The news comes amidst a shake-up for the WWE in the US. The company signed a five-year deal with Fox in June 2018 to bring Smackdown to Fox Sports starting October 2019. It has been reported that the Fox deal is worth US$1 billion.