Netflix VP of Global Live Sports & Entertainment on WWE: “They’ve been great partners, and we’re thrilled with the results so far” – POST Wrestling
This January will mark two years since WWE launched on Netflix, and the streamer’s VP of Global Live Sports and Entertainment recently spoke about the ongoing partnership.
Gabe Spitzer, a Vice President at Netflix, spoke with Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media podcast regarding their relationship with WWE. The sides agreed to a $5 billion deal over ten years, with the announcement made in January 2024, one year before it went into effect.
Spitzer assessed the first eighteen months of the partnership, where it broadcasts Raw exclusively in the U.S. and airs WWE’s entire programming in many parts of the world.
They’ve been great partners, and we’re thrilled with the results so far. We knew in the U.S., you know, something like Raw, having that every week there’s going to be that passionate, loyal fan base and they’re going to show up and have come in expected ways over to Netflix in predictable ways.
I think the place that we’ve been surprised, in a good way, that will continue to grow, is outside of the U.S., and that’s where we really see the potential to continue to grow this partnership. In the U.S., we have Raw only; outside of the U.S. and in most countries around the world, we’re the home for all of WWE.
The subject of Netflix’s standards was raised, and whether the streamer injected itself into some of the material on WWE’s broadcasts. It has been noticeable when swearing is muted during the broadcasts, and a glaring example last week was when the taped beatdown segment by 946 resulted in the faces of The Usos being censored to pixelate the blood.
Not often. Obviously, there are ratings standards that anyone has to adhere to. We’re Netflix, and we try to be a little looser on that. I think the place we’ve had conversations around locations, I also think it’s helped us. There have been examples where, even with the Raw coming up in a couple of weeks leading into a big Roman Reigns heavyweight championship match after the tournament, they’ve done. The ability for us to promote three to four weeks out from a big Raw. Starting off the year, it was CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for our first Raw of the year, those are the types of conversations we’ve had where, ‘Hey, if there’s a big matchup, can you let us know, three-to-five weeks in advance, so we can start promoting it outside of the PLEs you normally do’ and they’ve been very receptive to that.
Spitzer added that WWE has been open to its talent working with the streamer for appearances on other sports properties, such as Seth Rollins, who will return to work on the Christmas Day broadcast when Netflix airs the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears. WWE talent has also been meeting with Netflix’s scripted and film teams for casting.
About The Author
