WWE's future with NBC Universal rumored to be decided before the end of this week. Right now it appears to be leaning towards the WWE looking elsewhere for their shows.
WWE's been hinting they want NASCAR-like money for their new contracts.
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Originally Posted by New York Post
This Valentine’s Day NBCUniversal will either be giving WWE a big kiss or they’ll be breaking up.
The two parties are grappling over continuation of the sport-meets-reality TV programming on NBCUniversal’s USA Network and SyFy Channel.
An exclusive negotiating period ended last week with no deal in sight. We hear the pressure is on for a deal to get done in the next few days.
An industry source told On the Money, “NBCU has until Friday, Feb. 14, to respond to WWE’s final offer.”
It’s not clear where the price tag stands, but reports have suggested the last deal was priced at $140 million, and the WWE had been looking for a leap up that gives it a similar premium accorded to sports rights.
WWE — which announced the launch of its own over-the-top network for wrestling fans at CES — is one of the few things on TV ( besides sports) that fans want to watch live.
The question is, how badly does NBCU want to keep it? And where will it land if the two parties split up?
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Originally Posted by PWInsider
while the company appreciates its relationship with NBCU and does not want to move if it doesn't have to (as that creates confusion in the marketplace), they will if NBC doesn't make the offer that the company is looking for. With the ability to show Raw and Smackdown replays on the WWE Network, the feeling internally is that they will not have a problem with fans finding the product if they change networks. WWE has felt for years that their programming has been undervalued and Vince McMahon is determined to get what he feels is market value on this contract.
The company has done a fantastic job setting up this situation by making sure all of their TV deals expire at the same time so that they can sell them as a package.
The risk is that if they turn down NBCU's "best offer" and solicit elsewhere, if no one steps up, then NBCU will have all the power in negotiations going forward.
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Originally Posted by ProWrestling.Net
The Post previously reported that NBCU was thinking about creating a physical Hall of Fame for WWE at Universal Studios to sweeten the deal. There's no word yet as to whether that's officially on the table. It also remains to be seen who the other network suitors for WWE programming will be if NBCU doesn't strike a new deal before Friday.
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