WWE Reports Strong Revenue Growth and Upcoming Events Amid Challenges

TKO executives discussed WWE’s annual revenue of $1.398 billion and a decline in Q4 earnings. WWE Raw viewership is up 13% on Netflix, with anticipated new content. Plans for three PLEs in Saudi Arabia in 2026 and efforts to save $100 million through departmental integration were addressed.

Following the recent release of their Q4 and full-year earnings report for 2024, TKO executives hosted a conference call with the media to discuss the company’s performance. WWE President Nick Khan participated in the call, sharing several pertinent updates regarding WWE’s business operations.

WWE reported an annual revenue of $1.398 billion, with UFC narrowly surpassing them at $1.406 billion. The fourth quarter for WWE saw revenues of $298.3 million, reflecting a decline of $32.9 million compared to the previous year. This downturn was attributed to decreased media rights fees, particularly due to the expiration of WWE Raw’s contract with NBCUniversal in September and the subsequent delay in the Netflix agreement which commenced in January.

During the conference, TKO’s Mark Shapiro highlighted a 13% increase in WWE Raw’s viewership on Netflix compared to the previous year on USA, while also noting the positive impact of NXT, which has seen a 12% increase since moving to the CW Network.

Nick Khan expressed that there is significant interest from Netflix for additional WWE content, confirming that further programming is in development. TKO’s CFO Andrew Schleimer further announced plans to host three WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) in Saudi Arabia in 2026, noting that one will be next year’s Royal Rumble, as they anticipate only one PLE in 2025. Additionally, plans for more events in Australia are being explored over the coming years.

In light of the company’s restructuring, which integrates various departments of WWE and UFC, TKO has successfully met its objective of achieving $100 million in cost savings.

In summary, WWE’s financial performance indicates growth despite recent revenue challenges. The company’s increasing viewership on platforms like Netflix suggests a resilient audience base, and upcoming events in Saudi Arabia and Australia reflect its strategic expansion. Furthermore, the successful integration of WWE and UFC departments demonstrates effective cost management, positioning the company for future profitability.

Original Source: ewrestling.com