WWE is adding another major media partner to its growing list. Just weeks before Money in the Bank, the company has locked in a new multi-year agreement that will put its biggest moments in front of millions more fans across Bleacher Report’s digital platforms.
The deal isn’t limited to premium live events, either. It covers WWE’s entire programming slate, making Bleacher Report one of the company’s biggest digital distribution partners going forward.
According to the Sports Business Journal, WWE and Bleacher Report have agreed to a new multi-year partnership that grants Bleacher Report global highlight rights across WWE programming. The rollout will begin around Money in the Bank on October 10 in New Orleans.
Under the agreement, Bleacher Report will be able to distribute highlights from weekly shows including Raw, SmackDown and NXT, along with premium live events such as WrestleMania, Survivor Series and the rest of WWE’s major calendar.
The content will be shared across TNT Sports-backed platforms including B/R, House of Highlights and B/R Wrestling, giving WWE another major avenue to reach fans through short-form digital content.
The partnership goes beyond simply posting clips online. According to the report, Bleacher Report will also have a ringside presence at select WWE premium live events, creating exclusive social media and video content directly from the arena.
The agreement also places WWE alongside some of the biggest sports leagues in the world. Bleacher Report already has formal partnerships with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA, with WWE now joining that list under the new deal.
On the business side, Bleacher Report General Manager Bennett Spector led negotiations for TNT Sports, while WWE Executive Vice President Alex Varga represented WWE in completing the agreement.
The partnership is another sign of WWE’s continued push to expand its digital footprint. Between its media rights deals, growing social media presence and now an expanded relationship with Bleacher Report, the company is making sure its biggest moments reach fans on more platforms than ever before.
What do you think of WWE’s new partnership with Bleacher Report? Do you think it’ll help bring even more eyes to WWE programming? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
