Tony Khan is making it clear he is not worried about AEW’s future with Warner Bros. Discovery, even with Paramount Skydance set to take control.
While speaking during the AEW Double or Nothing post-show, Khan was asked about AEW’s current Warner Bros. deal running through 2027 and what could happen if Warner Bros. changes ownership. Khan pushed back immediately and said the sale is already effectively settled.
“My friend, we are already sold. We sold for $31 a share—it’s done. It’s going to happen. The really exciting thing is I’m very excited about who the buyer is. It’s very good for us.”
Khan said he is happy that Paramount Global will be part of the picture and praised David Ellison’s leadership. He also pointed to his own past work with Ellison through the NFL and Skydance as a reason he feels confident about AEW’s future.
“I’m so glad Paramount Global is going to be joining us here, and Paramount is going to be assuming control. I think it’s fantastic having David Ellison coming in here. He’s been a fantastic leader—he’s already doing great things with Paramount.
But having him come in here—I’ve worked with him on NFL and Skydance—I think it will be great for TBS and TNT. TNT and TBS will be stronger.”
Khan then connected the deal to Ted Turner’s old interest in CBS, saying he believes it is a positive that CBS, TBS, and TNT will now fall under the same corporate roof.
“The late, great Ted Turner wanted to buy CBS, and now CBS, TBS, and TNT will live under the same roof—and that’s great.”
Khan also argued that keeping TBS, TNT, and HBO Max together is better than splitting them apart. He said that had things gone another way, TBS and TNT could have been separated from HBO Max, which he did not believe would have been ideal.
“I think it’s great keeping everything under one roof. If things had gone the other way, that’s not what was going to happen—they were going to split up TBS and TNT from HBO Max. I don’t think that would have been in the best interest for everyone.”
Khan said he believes the new structure will be better for everyone involved with TBS and TNT because Paramount leadership is coming in with a clear plan.
“I think it’s going to be better for everyone at TBS and TNT now to have everything under one roof and to have leadership coming in with a vision and a plan. People at Paramount are excited about what’s happening there. I’m very optimistic—we have someone coming in who’s the same age as I am and who watches wrestling.”
The comments follow Khan’s recent appearance on Bloomberg TV’s The Close, where he said he was “very excited” about Paramount acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery and believed the merger would be great for AEW. When asked whether he expected Paramount to keep AEW on its platforms, Khan answered, “100%.”
AEW’s current domestic media deal with Warner Bros. Discovery runs through 2027, with WBD holding a one-year extension option. Dynamite and Collision air on TBS and TNT, while AEW pay-per-views stream on HBO Max in the United States.
For now, Khan is treating the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery situation as a major opportunity for AEW, not a threat. With Double or Nothing now behind the company, his message is simple: AEW is confident about its place in the next version of the Warner Bros. Discovery media landscape.
Do you think Tony Khan is right to be optimistic about AEW’s future under Paramount control? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
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