According to previous reports, actor and former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. mentioned that he has a source at ESPN indicating that the network is dissatisfied with its deal regarding WWE's Pay-Per-View events.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer pointed out that ESPN should have anticipated not turning a profit from this deal. He observed that the financial figures never aligned, suggesting that they should have expected it to be a loss leader. Meltzer emphasized that there was no feasible way for ESPN to recoup its investment and anyone who failed to see this simply didn’t understand basic math.
Meltzer further noted that WWE also incurred losses due to its partnership with Peacock. He explained that the deal was primarily intended to generate attention for the brand as they were developing the service, leading to losses not only from WWE but from various other factors as well.
Additionally, Meltzer stated that this issue isn't exclusive to WWE; it’s a broader TKO problem. Both WWE and UFC are under contracts that make it challenging to break even, yet they are seen as valuable for their brand recognition and marketing potential. He concluded by suggesting that if streaming platforms expect to profit from these deals, they should first use a calculator.
