Tony Khan 'Disappointed' With Warner Bros. Discovery's Current AEW Media Rights Offer

Disappointment over WBD's offer for AEW media rights

Aidan Gibbons smiling in front of a green screen in an Adidas hoodie

May 28, 2024

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All Elite Wrestling are currently in active negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery over the promotion's United States media rights, with AEW's current TV deal with WBD set to expire at the end of 2024.

Tony Khan has insisted, even in recent days with Sports Illustrated, that AEW are "having great talks" with Warner Bros. Discovery and the promotion will secure a "tremendous deal", but talks have not been completely smooth.

The two sides are currently locked in an exclusive negotiating window that expires in July, according to reputable entertainment journalist Puck's Matthew Belloni. Both WBD CEO David Zaslav and TNT Sports head Luis Silberwasser want to keep AEW programming on TNT and TBS but Tony Khan is "disappointed" with the current offer on the table from Warner Bros. Discovery, Belloni has reported.

Belloni noted that WBD losing AEW could cause a further headache for David Zaslav, with the media conglomerate looking likely to lose out on a TV deal with the NBA, and a rival bidder for AEW programming when the exclusive negotiating window expires could "further push Zaslav into hot water in his cable carriage deals."

One element of the talks between AEW and WBD reportedly revolves around the Max streaming service, with Zaslav and co. believed to be interested in adding AEW pay-per-views to the platform.

AEW programming that already airs on TNT and TBS includes Dynamite on Wednesday nights, Rampage on Friday nights, and Collision on Saturday nights.

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