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Foxtel Group secures WWE in multi-year deal

WWE content on FOX8 and a new WWE channel from December. On Binge from January, plus some events on Kayo Sports.

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The Foxtel Group and WWE have announced a major new multi-year partnership that will see events across Foxtel, Binge and Kayo Sports.

Content will be available on both the FOX8 channel and on a new, dedicated 24/7 WWE channel to launch from December 2022.

The Foxtel Group will broadcast on both these channels WWE’s Premium Live Events, previously only available through pay-per-view, at no additional charge to subscribers, plus Weekly Live Episodes of Raw, SmackDown and NXT.

Binge will become the new streaming home from January 2023 with all WWE Premium Live Events, including Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 39, and entertainment content available with a monthly $10 subscription. Original programming and a vast collection of archived content will be available on Binge, with select content available via Kayo Sports.

Foxtel Group Chief Content and Commercial Officer, Amanda Laing, said: “We are thrilled to remain the long-term partner of WWE, and be part of what will be an exciting new chapter for WWE in Australia.

“The reach of the Foxtel Group is a game-changer for our partners such as WWE. It’s why sport and entertainment partners in Australia and around the globe, including major Hollywood studios and world-leading sports and now WWE, continue to choose the Foxtel Group to showcase their content and build their audience reach in Australia. We are particularly pleased to offer all our Foxtel subscribers access to WWE’s Premium Live Events, that were previously only available on a pay-per-view basis for up to $30 per event, at no extra cost.”

Binge Executive Director, Alison Hurbert-Burns said: “For generations WWE has delighted fans across the globe and we’re thrilled this expanded partnership makes Binge the new streaming home of WWE in Australia.

“We can’t wait to bring WWE’s unpredictable drama, larger-than-life personalities from past and present including Roman Reigns, Rey Mysterio, Ronda Rousey, John Cena and The Undertaker, along with all the world-class WWE action to passionate Australian fans.”

WWE Chairwoman and co-CEO, Stephanie McMahon, said: “With its far-reaching and engaged audience, the Foxtel Group has been a trusted and long-standing partner of WWE for more than 20 years. We look forward to expanding our partnership with the Foxtel Group, and welcoming Binge as the new streaming home of WWE Network in the region.

“Together we will continue to provide our unique blend of action-packed, family-friendly entertainment to fans and grow the WWE audience throughout Australia.”

20 Responses

  1. Just discovered with this that everything is on Kayo Sports, RAW, Smackdown and NXT Live, WWE 24/7 Channel and all the PLE’s Live at no extra cost and started December 06th, which is interesting as it’s not selected parts like in the original press release.

    Via: twitter.com/kayosports/status/1599900933705846785?s=20&t=TKwz_xRdxrzWYiHgpuUeMw

  3. If you don’t need to access the vast WWE library, this is a win for WWE fans here. We will continue to get current RAW, Smackdown and NXT live on Fox8, with PPVs now free on the new WWE 24/7 channel. This means you can ditch your WWE network subscription, or not need to get the Binge one…

  4. “The Foxtel Group and WWE have announced a major new multi-year partnership that will see events across Foxtel, Binge and Kayo Sports. plus the other part with select content available via Kayo Sports.”

    Hopefully that means Ad-Free next day replays of RAW, NXT and Smackdown will still be on Kayo. Bit like the set-up in the US where at the moment Hulu get the next day replay and WWE Peacock have the 28 later day replay rights.

    As that next day is a good option as without ads 3 hours of RAW is 2:06hrs, Smackdown 1:24hrs and NXT 1:24hrs.

  5. So, it looks like Binge will take on the same type of role as Peacock in the US. I imagine that the WWE network in Australia will be announced as closing from January.

    1. Have read articles on other sites that confirm that the deal for binge will be the same kind of structure as the one with Peacock in the US. So I imagine the WWE network service here will cease come January.

    1. I totally agree especially with the mix of Family Guy, The Simpsons, Archer etc that kids watch, then put a bunch of sweaty muscle bound bunch pretending to be tough and “wrestle” with each other. Memories of an old black and white very painful “stomp hard as you can on my foot” was actually a move they did kinda thing on the show “World Championship Wrestling” live from Festival Hall we were served up to watch back in the day when I was young as entertainment (kinda an okay for violence thing really) No leave that for a station up there after 693 please.

      1. Well WWE has been on Fox8 since 2000 with *Smackdown and 2003 with RAW, plus if “kids” are watching Archer which has an MA15+ rating and Family Guy that has an M rating here, then WWE with it’s M rating for stylised violence will remain fine as it has for the past 22 years.

        *N.B: In September 2002 negotiations between FOX8 and WWE fell through and SmackDown! was cancelled. This situation (that also affected WWE pay per views) continued until August 2003 when SmackDown! returned on Saturday nights. RAW was moved from Fox Sports to FOX8 the same year and was shown on Friday nights. In order to prevent spoiler hunting on the internet, FOX8 moved WWE programming to timeslots closer to their United States air date in 2004.

        1. Yeh I know but I overlook it, I overcome the problem with Foxtel by by taping everything. It’s a two fold purpose for me I’m not into sweat or muscle for some females its a “thing” we don’t want to visit and best bit I can fast forward through the adds. As for as ratings honestly I would love to know how many kids actually watch MA15+ PG etc and get away with it because I know I sure did.

    1. I doubt that will happen, as exclusive would work both ways knowing WWE, though there’s nothing stopping Stan, Optus Sports or Paramount+ at the moment. If HBO Max comes to Australia being that’s Warner Bros Discovery, which is where AEW airs the USA (TBS and TNT) and they have it on there instead of Fite TV (AEW+ sub for USD$6.99/month). Impact Wrestling I think would be a good one for one of the Digital Free To Air channels like 7Mate or even 9Rush, the NWA one would suit one of those channels as well really.

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