The UFCs billion-dollar TV rights are officially up for grabsand Warner Bros. Discovery might be ready to make a major move that could throw AEW Collisions Saturday slot into chaos.
Now that ESPNs exclusive negotiation window with TKO and UFC has closed, Puck Varsitys John Ourand reports that at least four major companies are actively in the mix for the rights. The frontrunner? Still ESPN, but with the deal likely being split into multiple packages, new playersincluding Amazon Prime, Netflix, and yes, AEWs own broadcast partner Warner Bros. Discoveryare circling.
According to Ourand, ESPNs renewal talks are furthest along, but dont bet on a clean renewal just yet. Amazon is said to be most interested in UFCs pay-per-view business, while Netflix and WBD are sniffing around the linear and streaming packages. For AEW, that means one thing: if WBD lands UFC rights, Collision might be forced off Saturday nights.
Ourand called Warner Bros. Discovery a wildcard in the negotiations and noted that the company is in active pursuit of sports rights, especially with the NBA officially gone from its networks this week. The UFC could become WBDs marquee sports propertyairing fights on TNT, TBS, and streaming via Max. And while AEW and UFC coexisting on TNT is technically possible, Ourand said a direct time-slot battle is very unlikely. Thats where Thursday night comes into play.
AEW has already tested Thursday airings when NBA or NHL playoffs and WWE events push them off Saturday. A Thursday shift could streamline production with Dynamite on Wednesdays, saving travel costs and simplifying logistics. And more importantly, it would mean no more going head-to-head with WWE Premium Live Events.
With the current UFCESPN deal worth $1.5 billion expiring at the end of 2025, dont expect an immediate shakeup. Ourands sources say were still nearly two months away from a finalized agreement. But when the dust settles, AEW could find itself with a new nightand a shot at bigger numbers if Saturday roadblocks disappear.
Everything hinges on how far WBD is willing to go for UFCand whether theyll make AEW adapt to fit the deal. Either way, AEW fans might want to start getting used to Thursday nights.
How would you feel about AEW Collision permanently moving to Thursdays? Would that help or hurt the shows momentum? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
