When WWE announced a deal that would bring Premium Live Event (PLE) programming to ESPN starting next year, the agreement notably excluded any details regarding where the promotion’s multi-decade library of content will go.
WWE’s previous deal with NBCUniversal’s Peacock service granted them the rights to broadcast PLEs, but also gave them the promotion’s impressive backlog of events, with thousands of hours between past TV and pay-per-view events.
But as of right now, it’s unclear where such add-ons will go once WWE’s PLE rights shift in a little under a year. Last week, it was noted during an earnings call that WWE had “retained” the content “for further monetization.”
Even though ESPN hasn’t acquired the rights to WWE’s catalogue of past events, counting them out of potentially grabbing such content might be premature. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro recently told The Ringer’s Press Box podcast that he’s certainly interested in acquiring the rights.
“We’re always interested in the content of that quality,” said Pitaro, when asked if he would possibly want WWE’s library rights. “I will tell you that we have the archival rights for the events that we are airing. But yes, in terms of their library, we certainly would be interested if and when these rights are available.”
Pitaro noted earlier in the interview that a major positive in the deal with WWE, he sees, is that the wrestling company is willing to help fit their events into the broadcaster’s schedule.
“The executives at the WWE have been very clear with us that they’re willing to work with us in terms of scheduling … If I were to call Nick Khan and say, ‘Hey, can you work with me? We have a particular gap in our schedule,’ I expect that he will.”
