Netflix India is poised to acquire the media rights for WWE in the country from Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) through a significant 10-year agreement. As reported by, this transition is part of a larger global arrangement worth $5 billion, which was finalized earlier this year between WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, and the streaming platform.

Netflix to Enters Sports Entertainment in 2025

The transition, anticipated to occur in March 2025, signifies Netflix India's foray into the realm of sports entertainment. Although Netflix has made global investments in live sports, including collaborations with the NFL, it has refrained from broadcasting sports content in India, including cricket, which is the nation's most popular sport. Netflix India has announced that WWE content will be accessible on its platform starting in 2025. SPNI has chosen not to provide any comments regarding this development.

This shift follows the conclusion of WWE's existing five-year agreement with SPNI, valued at approximately $180-210 million and established in 2020. Netflix is resolute in its pursuit of exclusive media rights in India, despite SPNI's desire to maintain television rights, given WWE's robust digital performance during the current contract.

This strategy positions Netflix to directly compete with well-established Indian sports streaming services such as Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, which possess broadcasting rights for significant events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICC tournaments.

WWE's Longstanding Presence in India

WWE has been a prominent feature on Indian television for more than twenty years, initially airing on Ten Sports, which was subsequently rebranded as Sony Ten following its acquisition by SPNI in 2016. Starting in January 2025, Netflix will exclusively broadcast WWE's primary shows (Raw, SmackDown, and NXT) in major markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South America, with plans to extend this service to India by April 2025.

Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, has highlighted the company's dedication to global sports and its focus on engaging younger audiences, aligning with the objectives of various sports leagues. However, the challenge of shifting WWE's large fanbase from traditional television to a streaming platform may be significant, particularly given that Netflix India currently has 12 million subscribers, in contrast to WWE's 900 million viewers in India.

The departure of WWE is a considerable loss for SPNI, which has been a significant contributor to its sports programming. Analysts suggest that SPNI will need to acquire new sports content to maintain its audience, despite its recent acquisition of rights to the Asian Cricket Council for $170 million.

Read Also: Get Ready for Confetti! WhatsApp's New Celebration Feature Explained