Tony Khan Open To Warner Bros. Discovery Investing In AEW
Tony Khan on potential investment from Warner Bros. Discovery
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Sep 27, 2023
Could Warner Bros. Discovery follow in the footsteps of Ted Turner and own a piece of pro wrestling?
Speaking during the pre-AEW WrestleDream media call, AEW CEO Tony Khan revealed he has spoken to Warner Bros. Discovery about the media conglomerate owning a minority stake in All Elite Wrestling. Khan noted he always plans to maintain 100% voting control within the company but he is open to WBD investment in the promotion.
"It's something we've talked about a lot. There has been a lot of conversations about that. It's always been something I've been open to. Between Warner Bros. Discovery and myself, a lot of the financial and structural details of our partnership, we've been able to keep between us, but there are things that have always said to be true, that I own 100% of the voting stock of this company and that I have 100% of the decision making power in the company. I've been open to taking on additional partnerships or things of that nature. We have a really great deal, right now, with Warner Bros. Discovery, and I would love to have an even longer agreement," Khan said.
"As for them and their stake in the business, that is something that would be between us, but I would also be open to that, to Warner Bros. in a future deal, having a piece or a bigger piece, potentially, but I would always want to maintain 100% voting control, as I have now, and want to maintain the majority of stock, which I have now. These are things that are important to me, but in a future deal, these are things I would be open to," Khan continued.
"There is nothing bad about it. We've seen in pro wrestling this year a change of control. I have no interest in a change of control. Would I be interested in taking on additional investment? Yeah, potentially. It would have to be at the right numbers and it would have to make sense for us based on how much our business has grown this year. As for a change or control or giving up voting stock, no, I have no interest in that."
Warner Bros. Discovery is AEW's TV partner in the United States. Dynamite airs on TBS, while Rampage and Collision both air on TNT.
H/T to Fightful
