The NBC streaming platform Peacock will become the exclusive US home for the WWE Network. Peacock hasn’t yet made the cultural splash that competitors like Disney+ and HBO Max did last year, but NBC has steadily built out its library of content and introduced different payment levels to appeal to a broad range of potential users. A big part of that appeal has been exclusive rights to popular properties like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and now, WWE.

The WWE (formerly WWF) has been the biggest name in professional wrestling for decades. While the sport/theater hybrid might not have the same level of cultural impact now as it did in the ‘80s and 90s (according to recent WWE ratings), a large and fiercely dedicated fan base still follows the company’s cavalcade of weekly shows, pay-per-views, and original content. WWE Network, a 24/7 channel and streaming platform for the company’s various programming, was launched in 2014. In less than a year, it had acquired over a million subscribers.

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Now, the WWE Network will be integrated with NBC’s Peacock platform exclusively for US streaming. The deal was recently announced by WWE with March 18 named as the start date for content integration. The announcement references “more than 17,000 hours of new, original, and library WWE Network programming on demand and on a 24/7 channel.” WWE Network will be available through Peacock Premium, which costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year. An ad-free version, Peacock Premium Plus, is available for $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Details for current WWE Network subscribers have yet to be released.

Kurt Angle, Zack Ryder and Rusev WWE

While WWE and The Office may not seem inherently similar, they serve a similar purpose at Peacock. Disney+ and HBO Max have built followings off of massive franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC, and NBC seems to be following that blueprint in their own way. While The Office and the WWE are worlds apart from a sci-fi franchise like Star Wars, they still have incredibly loyal and expansive fan bases. WWE Network did well when it was an independent entity, and it should be a great way for NBC to gather more viewers to Peacock.

While at first glance the deal seems to be more outwardly beneficial to NBC (evidenced by the rumored $1 billion price paid to acquire the streaming rights), it could have some serious pluses for WWE as well. TNT’s AEW Dynamite has recently entered the ring as the first major US competitor to WWE in years, which could pose a long-term threat. On Peacock, a whole new range of viewers have the potential to watch and become fans of WWE.

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Source: WWE