WWE NXT has found a new home, with the black and gold brand set to move to The CW Network starting in October 2024. The news was announced by TKO boss Ari Emanuel in an earnings call ahead of the November 7th edition of NXT TV, and it was revealed that the two sides had agreed to a five-year contract.
NXT's current contract with USA Network is set to expire at the end of 2024, with the show moving to The CW at a later date. Regarding the contract, CW President Dennis Miller said the following in a press release:
“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand to The CW's sports portfolio as they play a key role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round,” said Miller. “WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its young, dynamic talent, featuring the sport's hottest rising stars and exciting, unpredictable weekly events. The passion and engagement of WWE’s fan base is unmatched, and we look forward to expanding that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television.”
The deal is believed to be significantly larger than USA's $15 million per year deal, with Deadline reporting that the new deal is "more than double" what USA already pays for broadcast rights. . Ari Emanuel confirmed that the new deal will see a “70 percent growth in average annual value” over the previous deal.
“The CW has made impressive moves over the last year with its live sports programming,” said Nick Khan. “It’s a truly exciting opportunity to expand NXT’s audience by bringing the show to broadcast television for the first time in NXT history.”
The CW network has previously been linked to a possible broadcast of NWA, but the recent controversial incident involving an "illicit substance" at NWA Samhain is believed to have jeopardized any deal.
