Group 1: WWE and ESPN Partnership - WWE has secured a deal with ESPN worth an average of $325 million per year for five years, starting in 2026, covering major live events like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam [2][3] - Previously, NBCUniversal's Peacock paid $180 million per year for a similar package over five years [3] - All 10 of WWE's premium live events will be available on ESPN's new $29.99-per-month direct-to-consumer platform, with select events simulcast on ESPN's linear networks [3] Group 2: Strategic Alignment and Audience Expansion - TKO Group President Mark Shapiro emphasized the strategic alignment between WWE and ESPN, stating that partnering with ESPN is essential for expanding WWE's audience on a national scale [4][5] - ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noted that the addition of WWE events will help reduce churn and expand ESPN's audience beyond traditional sports, appealing to a younger, more diverse demographic [5][6] - WWE President Nick Khan highlighted that 38% of WWE's audience are women and that about 50% of attendees at live events come with children, indicating a multigenerational appeal [6][7] Group 3: Additional Streaming Agreements - In 2024, WWE signed a 10-year, $5 billion deal with Netflix to stream "Raw" every Monday night, starting this year [7] - "SmackDown," airing on USA Network, will continue to stream on Peacock until its deal expires in 2029 [7]