Tony Khan is apparently feeling a lot better about AEW’s media future now that the Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance deal is moving in the direction it is.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said Khan is optimistic about the proposed Paramount Skydance merger with WBD moving forward. That matters because AEW’s biggest shows, Dynamite and Collision, still live on WBD networks TBS and TNT.
The bigger concern before this was Netflix. Since Netflix already has a major WWE deal, there were questions about what AEW’s future would look like if Netflix ended up with Warner Bros. Discovery. Meltzer said the fear was that Netflix would keep HBO Max but not the linear TV networks AEW depends on.
“The concern was that Netflix would keep HBO Max but not the linear TV stations,” Meltzer explained, adding that WWE would still have a business relationship with the company while “the leadership might not be focused on wrestling fans.”
That would have left AEW in a weird spot. HBO Max may have remained valuable, but TBS and TNT are the weekly homes for AEW television, and any shakeup involving those networks could directly affect Khan’s long-term plans.
Now the Paramount Skydance path looks stronger after Politico reported that the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division approved the $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery without requiring major concessions.
“After an extensive review, DOJ officials determined the transaction did not pose a threat to competition and declined to challenge it, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The department approved the merger without requiring any divestitures, behavioral remedies or concessions, according to one of the people.”
The deal would combine Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, TV, cable, and streaming assets. Politico also reported that HBO Max would be joined with Paramount+ to form a streaming service with around 200 million subscribers.
“The decision, expected to be announced Friday, paves the way for Paramount to combine with the entertainment and media company behind a vast film and television studio, CNN, and the HBO Max streaming service, which would be combined with Paramount+ to create a new offering boasting about 200 million subscribers.”
Still, nobody is popping champagne just yet. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is still reviewing the deal, and Politico made it clear that federal approval does not end the legal process: “The DOJ’s approval does not end the merger’s legal scrutiny.” Bonta’s office also said the state investigation is still active: “The Paramount acquisition of Warner Brothers remains an active investigation.”
For AEW, this is pretty clear. Khan feels better about Paramount Skydance moving forward than a Netflix scenario tied so closely to WWE. That does not mean AEW’s TV future is locked forever, but it does mean the path ahead may look a lot less uncomfortable than it could have.
The media business is still messy, and this merger could bring layoffs, reshuffling, and major changes across Hollywood. But for now, AEW’s relationship with WBD remains in place, and Khan appears to be watching the Paramount deal with a lot more confidence than concern.
What do you think about Tony Khan reportedly feeling optimistic about the Paramount-WBD merger? Could this be good news for AEW, or is there still reason to worry? Let us know in the comments below.
