Despite Netflix’s recent $5 billion deal with WWE for exclusive rights to events like Raw, Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shows will continue to be available on SuperSport, MultiChoice has confirmed.
Netflix’s ten-year agreement includes certain international rights to other WWE properties. Starting from January 2025, Netflix will broadcast the show in the US, Canada, Latin America, and other international markets, after the WWE’s domestic deal with Comcast comes to an end.
Comcast recently bought a 30% stake in Showmax, a streaming company owned by MultiChoice, through its subsidiary, NBCUniversal. According to reports, Netflix will become the exclusive home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S.
However, MultiChoice maintains that this deal won’t affect its contract with WWE. “SuperSport has held WWE broadcast rights for Sub-Saharan Africa since 2017, which we expanded in 2019, through our direct partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment,” it said.
While SuperSport may not immediately lose its WWE rights in Africa to Netflix, the streaming giant’s foray into live events could be a concern for Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster. It may result in significant implications for the broadcaster if its dominance in this area is challenged by players like Netflix, Google (YouTube), Disney, and Amazon (Prime Video), who all have deep pockets.
