WWE and BSkyB have agreed a new five-year contract commencing January 2010 which will see Sky continue to hold exclusive broadcast rights in the UK, continuing a relationship that has lasted over 20 years to date.

The new deal will see Raw, Smackdown and ECW continue to be broadcast in both SD and HD on Sky Sports along with Bottom Line, Afterburn and Vintage Collection.

As part of the new deal, Sky will begin airing ‘This Week in WWE’ (also in HD) along with five monthly specials annually.

WWE Experience will be broadcast on Sky 1 (also in HD), along with WWE Superstars.

Eight of WWE’s annual PPV event will be broadcast on Sky Box Office, including the “big four” (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Summerslam and Survivor Series), with remaining PPV events be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

All PPVs will continue to be offered in HD also.

In a press release, Andrew Whitaker, President of International for WWE, said: “The new agreement sees our broadcast partnership with BSkyB reach a history-making 25 years; there is no greater testimony to the mutually beneficial nature of our relationship. It has been pivotal to WWE reaching the new heights of popularity we now enjoy in the UK. We look forward to continuing to grow our brand presence with BSkyB.”

Sky Sports Managing Director, Barney Francis, added: “Our relationship with WWE goes back many years, since our network began in 1989. WWE fans have grown up watching all the big events and weekly programmes on Sky. We are delighted to once again extend our relationship and offer our viewers the globally renowned sports entertainment which is WWE for another five years – and all available in high definition.”

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com