WASHINGTON—The 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, at the Las Vegas Convention Center will mark the debut of the Business of Entertainment track developed with The Ankler, which covers the entertainment industry with news, commentary and expert analysis.

The new conference track will feature a lineup of programming, leading brands and a special appearance by WWE president Nick Khan and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NAB said.

Khan and Levesque will discuss the company's continuing evolution—from global expansion and talent development to innovative storytelling and the integration of new technologies.

Sean McNulty, author of The Wakeup, the Hollywood and media newsletter from The Ankler, and the host of The Ankler podcast, will moderate the conversation with WWE leadership as they discuss their vision for the next generation of sports entertainment.

The Business of Entertainment track will deliver actionable insights and expert perspectives on media dealmaking, content bundles, new advertising models, the state of production, the intersection of Hollywood and the creator economy and emerging consumer and audience trends, it said.

The conversations will empower professionals to deepen their understanding of the field, refine their skills and meet key industry players. This two-day program will feature 10 sessions and presentations from leading executives in media and entertainment, accessible to all attendees with an Exhibits Pass.

"We’re thrilled to welcome Nick Khan and Paul Levesque to take the stage at our new Business of Entertainment track at NAB Show," said Karen Chupka, executive vice president and managing director, NAB Global Connections and Events. "Partnering with The Ankler for this track brings a fresh, dynamic voice to cover the movers and shakers and game-changing content coming out of Hollywood.”

The track will offer:

• Werk Ethic: “Drag Race” Universe and Beyond – Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, co-founders of World of Wonder (WOW) and executive producers of “RuPaul's Drag Race,” share how they built WOW Presents Plus and expanded the franchise to more than 20 countries with a fan-first approach across live events and digital platforms. Moderated by Elaine Low, author of The Ankler’s Series Business newsletter.
• Reality Check: The New Rules of Unscripted TV – Andrew Fried, president of Boardwalk Pictures and executive producer of “Welcome to Wrexham and Chef’s Table,” joins Howard Owens, founder and co-CEO of Propagate Content; Jennifer O'Connell, CEO of Pantheon Media Group and co-CEO of Velvet Hammer Media; and Courtney White, president of Wheelhouse Entertainment, to explore the latest trends, challenges and innovations shaping non-fiction television. Moderated by Elaine Low.
• Navigating the Future of Hollywood: Opportunities in Uncertain Times – Hollywood is in the midst of generational shifts in business models and consumer habits, not to mention ongoing technical disruption, and the future is full of uncertainty. But innovators often find that the largest opportunities emerge during the most uncertain of times. Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Candle Media co-founders and co-CEOs, share insights on how major Hollywood players are recalibrating and what it takes for leaders and organizations to get ahead of and capitalize on these seismic shifts. Sean McNulty will moderate the discussion. 

More information on the WWE, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “New Rules for Unscripted TV” and “Navigating the Future of Hollywood” discussions is available online.

More information on the track and other business content is available on the NAB Show website.

NEW YORK—Major League Soccer has announced plans to move MLS Productions, the league’s media and broadcast production arm, into a new studio and facilities at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

The move will help MLS Productions expand its capabilities, broaden content offerings, offer more efficient workflows and centralize its broadcast content and graphics.

The move is part of a renewed, multiyear deal between MLS and IMG that will expand their existing broadcast production relationship. As part of the agreement, IMG will continue to produce live match and studio productions and programming for more than 600 annual games on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The WWE facility where MLS Production plans to reside is part of TKO Group Holdings, which recently reached an agreement with Endeavor to acquire IMG, in a transaction expected to be completed in the first half of this year.

The brand new state-of-the-art production facility, The Studios at WWE in Stamford, is a 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility equipped with five studios with the latest technologies, wide-ranging production amenities, and highlighted by an awe-inspiring virtual production stage.

The facility features best-in-class production offerings and new cutting-edge technology to further improve the production of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, MLS said. It will serve as the hub for popular MLS live studio programming and content in English and Spanish. The new location for MLS Season Pass will enable MLS Productions to add programming in the new season.

The bespoke facility, which has been engineered around the needs of MLS Productions, will also enable centralized solutions across the MLS workflow, the companies said.

“The debut of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV has been remarkable for fans around the world to be able to consume all MLS games and content,” said, Seth Bacon, executive vice president, media, MLS. “With the incredible momentum and excitement around the league, we are thrilled to further our partnership with IMG to support our vision of elevating production, creating new viewing opportunities, and pushing the sports broadcast landscape into the future.”

IMG produces content for some of the world’s biggest leagues and events, including the English Premier League, English Football League, Saudi Pro League, CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League and Europa League coverage, UFC, DP World Tour, The Ryder Cup, and The Open Championship.

“Together with MLS and Apple, we have set a new standard for the MLS viewing experience, creating a new era of entertaining, highly engaging content for football fans globally,” said Barney Francis, executive vice president of studios, IMG. “Over the coming years, we will continue to innovate with cutting-edge technology and creativity, powered by our incredible new home, The Studios at WWE, and IMG’s industry-leading production experience and capabilities.”

“We have long admired the tremendous MLS-IMG partnership—and the fantastic product and results it has generated over the years,” WWE Executive Vice President, Media and Production Lee Fitting said. “We believe that WWE’s new state-of-the-art facilities will help take their collective capabilities to even greater heights.”

In 2023, MLS and Apple debuted MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, creating a single destination where every MLS match is available for fans worldwide, the league said. Together with its production partners IMG and NEP, MLS Season Pass has brought best-in-class production, more expansive coverage and increased global visibility, surpassing expectations in its first two years, according to the league.

A new study on the impact of Netflix’s $5 billion WWE deal, indicates that it could boost usage of Netflix among WWE fans and that it would help WWE attract a younger fan base. 

As WWE Raw gets ready to move exclusively to Netflix in 2025, YouGov examined streaming data to get a sense of what opportunities the deal presents for both brands. 

The YouGov data shows that 50% of WWE fans say they use Netflix on a regular basis, about the same as the general audience (51%). 

But more than one third (34%) of WWE fans regularly used NBCU’s streaming service Peacock, which currently owns WWE rights, a much higher proportion than the overall population, where about 20% regularly use Peacock. That disparity prompted the researchers to argue Netflix usage could rise for WWE fans on WWE Raw begins streaming on Netflix. 

The survey also found that the deal could promise similar benefits from WWE.  The survey found that 34% of WWE fans who are not Netflix users regard Netflix as good quality and 24% believe it offers a good value for money proposition, indicating that many WWE fans who currently aren’t using Netflix might subscribe once the WWE Raw shows moves to Netflix in 2025. 

In addition, only 11% of regular Netflix users say they watched or followed the WWE in the past year, indicating that the deal would expose a large group of Netflix users to WWE content, the researchers noted. 

More specifically, the study found that the deal could help WWE attract a younger fan base and that the WWE being featured on Netflix presents an opportunity for the company to get more customers, especially among younger Americans. Adults aged 18-29 make up 27% of Netflix users, compared to 18% in that age group who are WWE fans, the survey found. 

The full report can be found here. 

STAMFORD, Conn.—Netflix has jumped into live sports with a reported $5 billion deal with WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc., that will bring WWE’s flagship weekly program—Raw—to the world’s leading streaming service. 

This marks a major programming shift both for the WWE and Netflix.  After years of saying it had no interest in live sports, Netflix has of late been streaming some live events as Amazon and other streamers have ramped up their live sports options. The WWE deal marks, by far, Netflix's largest commitment to live programming. 

For the WWE, the deal means that the WWE Raw weekly program will be leaving linear television, where it currently airs on USA Network, for the first time since its inception 31 years ago.

Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s award-winning documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO president and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE president. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

The show is currently the No. 1 show on USA Network, where it brings in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year. One of television’s best performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, Raw trends on X 52 weeks a year while each new episode is airing. On social media, WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms, the WWE reported. 

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn.—Endeavor Group Holdings, the owner of UFC, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to merge UFC and WWE to form a new, publicly listed global sports and entertainment company that the companies say will be valued at more than $21 billion. 

When the deal closes, Endeavor will hold a 51% controlling interest in the new company and existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% interest in the new company.

On a combined 2022 fiscal year-end basis, UFC and WWE achieved revenue of $2.4 billion and a 10% annual revenue growth rate since 2019, the companies said. 

The transaction values UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion. 

“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor. “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”

“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand – nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years – and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders,” said Vincent K. McMahon, executive chairman of WWE.

“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon continued. “The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands. I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level.”

The new company will be led by Emanuel as CEO, who will also continue in his role as CEO of Endeavor, McMahon (executive chairman of the Board) and Mark Shapiro, who will be president and chief operating officer of both Endeavor and the new company. Dana White will continue in his role as president of UFC and Nick Khan will serve as president of WWE. The Board of Directors will consist of 11 members who will be appointed at a later date, six of whom will be appointed by Endeavor and five of whom by WWE.

STAMFORD, Conn. & LOS ANGELES—WWE's new NFT marketplace, Moonsault, will debut its first official NFT collection in advance of the annual WWE premium live event "Hell in a Cell". 

On June 3, the  WWE and Fox Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL) are releasing 10,000+ “NFT Flips” for “Hell in a Cell,” each featuring a WWE Superstar tied to the "Hell in a Cell" event. In the days after "Hell in a Cell", each NFT Flip will transform to reveal a 10-20 second video highlight of the featured Superstar. 

The NFT Flips will be sold on “Moonsault” in “Cases” of three, randomized at minting, for $30 per Case. “Moonsault” will be powered by Eluvio’s eco-friendly Content Blockchain.

WWE and BCL launched WWE’s official NFT marketplace, “Moonsault,” this past Friday, May 27, during Smackdown on FOX, and promoted the debut across WWE and Fox media platforms, as well as on WWE Discord. The first 10,000 fans to create a wallet on the platform received a free Moonsault Genesis NFT, all of which were claimed within only a few hours.

In the future, more limited-edition Cases of NFT Flips, and other video highlights and digital collectibles centered on WWE Superstars and iconic moments from the company’s history, will be dropped on “Moonsault,” timed to major WWE premium live events throughout the year.

"Hell in a Cell" streams live this Sunday, June 5, on Peacock.

BURBANK, Calif.—PSSI Global Services has enhanced its dual-dish CK27 truck to support the evolving transmission needs of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

The upgraded vehicle made its debut in late September for “Friday Night Smackdown” “Extreme Rules PPV” and “Monday Night Raw.”

The upgrade includes a larger 3G HD video router to handle more video inputs and outputs, an expanded ASI router, new Evertz 3067VIP multiviewers with X-link to allow monitoring of up to 64 sources and additional IPGs to accommodate more video sources to and from production trucks, PSSI said.

The expanded technical lineup also includes redundant Evertz Magnum control servers for management and control of additional routing and multiviewers. New MediaKind AVP4000 encoders with MPEG-4 and HEVC support were added, as well as transport stream multiplexers to support multichannel distribution and 1080p HDR and SDR feeds, it said.

PSSI also included new RX1 and RX8200 decoders on the receiver side to support inbound feeds and for confidence monitoring. An IP backbone was added to allow all compressed transport streams to flow seamlessly through compression, muxing and monitoring platforms and out to data distribution, it said. 

The company also installed dual Eaton Blade UPS systems for technical power and utility/HVAC power. The UPS system included ASCO automatic power transfer switches, it said. 

PSSI also incorporated a 4.6-meter, four-port C-band antenna with hub-mounted 2:1 Advantech solid state amplifiers. The antenna, paired with the SSPBs, delivers the linear power necessary for today’s higher-modulation schemes, allowing the most efficient use of the satellite bandwidth. Hub-mounted solid state amplifiers also were added to the existing 2.4-meter Ku-band antenna, it said.

Upgrades to the truck also include redundant computer controls, Dante-based audio and comms systems and additional air conditioning. The design and layout of CK27 also make single engineer operation easier and provides more workspace. 

“We have partnered with WWE on countless events over the years, and as their needs grow and change, we continue to find innovative ways to modify our equipment to support their goals,” said PSSI executive vice president Brian Nelles. “The upgraded CK27 offers a customized, cutting-edge solution to address WWE’s complex transmission projects well into the future.”

More information is available on the company’s website. 

NEW YORK & STAMFORD, Conn.—Peacock has pinned down the exclusive U.S. streaming rights for the WWE Network, boosting the streaming service’s sports offerings.

Via a multi-year agreement, Peacock will feature more than 17,000 hours of new, original and library WWE Network programming on demand and on a 24/7 channel. Available content will include all live pay-per-view events, like “WrestleMania” and “SummerSlam;” original series; in-ring shows; replays; WWE Network archives, including every pay-per-view event in WWE, WCW and ECW history; and documentaries.

WWE Network will launch for Peacock customers on March 18 at a monthly price of $4.99. This price will include the entire WWE and Peacock catalog. Peacock Premium Plus, which is ad-free, will also include the WWE Network and cost $9.99 per month.

"NBCUniversal has a long-standing relationship with WWE that began nearly 30 years ago with ‘Monday Night Raw’ on USA. WWE has always tapped into the cultural zeitgeist with spectacular live events and larger-than-life characters, and we are thrilled to be the exclusive home for WWE Network and its millions of fans across the country," said Rick Cordella, executive vice president and chief revenue officer, Peacock. "WWE Network is a transformative addition to the platform and complements Peacock's massive catalog of iconic movies and shows, as well as the best live news and sports, from NBCUniversal and beyond." 

This is another addition to Peacock’s stock of sports programming. NBCUniversal announced last week that it would be shuttering its NBCSN cable sports channel, with a portion of its content going to Peacock.

Some wrestlers on the WWE payroll are objecting to matches continuing to be taped for television, despite the lack of fans in the stands. 

According to “Ringside News,” some prominent wrestlers (who were not identified) said they were worried about their jobs if they didn’t show up to the tapings. Despite the pandemic shutting most television production down back in March, WWE returned to the airwaves in April, performing in fan-less arenas. 

Even though participating wrestlers undergo testing for coronavirus, a number of wrestlers still are balking about returning to the ring. 

“I know people who are going, but think it should be shut down,” host Dave Melzer said during an episode of “Wrestling Observer Radio.” “I mean if you’re Roman Reigns you don’t have to go and if you’re Daniel Bryan you probably don’t have to go, but if you’re most guys you kinda need a good reason not to go. There are guys who aren’t big names who haven’t been going because of, you know, like there are certain family issues [WWE] was accepted. I don’t know how many people are thrilled to go.”

He added that just because a known name in the WWE community isn’t appearing on the weekly matches, doesn’t necessarily mean that they have coronavirus. 

Sports branding company Endeavor, which acquired streaming technology provider Neulion last year for $250 million, has announced the launch of “Endeavor Streaming” which will encompass the company's video streaming products and services.

Endeavor currently offers streaming for the NFL, NBA, UFC, and Euroleague. In announcing the launch, the newly formed division has added new clients WWE and their WWE Network, one of the largest sports-entertainment OTT platforms in the world; UK-based BT and their new service, BT Sport Box Office; and OSN, the Middle East and North Africa's leading entertainment network.

The division will be co-led by Endeavor Chief Technology Officer Nick Wilson and Endeavor Streaming President of Business Operations Will Staeger. Staeger previously served as Senior Vice President within IMG's original content division following time at ESPN, WWE, and Dick Clark Productions.

“There is no better home for content owners – whether an established sports league or a rising new content creator—than Endeavor Streaming,” remarked Wilson and Staeger. “We've integrated Endeavor's scalable platform with NeuLion's industry leading technology and feature set to provide clients with the best tools and services in video streaming, removing technology as a barrier in reaching their consumers.”

Other major Endeavor Streaming clients include Univision, Sportsnet, Sky Sports, MSG, National Geographic, and Big Ten Network. The group will also continue supporting Endeavor properties like PBR (Ride Pass) and UFC (UFC.TV and FIGHT PASS) It has also launched several new consumer products, including Serie A Pass and Strive, the latter of which features action from both Serie A and La Liga, Italy and Spain's top professional soccer leagues, respectively.

FREMONT, CALIF.—The tag team of Blackmagic Design and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have proved to be a winning combination for some time, including for the WWE’s recent Smackdown Holiday Tour. Specifically, the WWE post production team used Blackmagic’s Fairlight DAWs with Xynergi controllers to help deliver broadcast, online and social media projects.

WWE uses six Xynergi-equipped audio suites complete with Fairlight PYXIS video recording and playback and CC-2 audio engines to handle all audio post. The Fairlight comes with a library file feature, which allows the production team to import multiple edits from another timeline across multiple tracks and clips. The PYXIS system allows for the playing of AAF and flattened MXF-wrapped video files off of any server. The Fairlight’s ADR mode also allows the team to bring video files in with audio and make new mixes on the fly.

WWE says it has been using the Fairlight system since 1997 to create content ranging from long format shows, spots, social media, short format and dramatic packages.