Tony Khan has given further insight into AEW’s ongoing media rights deal.
AEW’s future has been uncertain in recent months, with Tony Khan in the process of negotiating a new media rights with WBD (Warner Bros Discovery). The existing deal is set to expire at the end of this year, impacting the promotion’s future distribution. Khan has provided updates on the deal in the last few weeks, most recently speaking after the September 6 episodes of AEW Collision and Rampage went off-air. Khan told the crowd that he “felt pretty good to say AEW on TBS and TNT… is here to stay”. At the All Out post-show media scrum, Khan clarified these statements and provided further details on the current state of the deal.
During the media scrum, Khan was asked for an update on the media rights deal, and to explain what he meant in his recent X post, where he described AEW as being “on the 1 yard line at the most important time in our history”:
We’re still in very very close and exciting negotiations with Warner Brothers Discovery. It’s been going on throughout the summer that we’ve been having these conversations. It’s a very detailed package that we’re having discussions about.
Thank you all who watch AEW!
This huge weekend #AEWAllOut starts TONIGHT with 3.5 hours live on TNT!
AEW's on the 1 yard line at the most important time in our history, join us TOMORROW for All Out
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#AEWCollision
8pm ET/7pm CT
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TONIGHT on TNT— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) September 6, 2024
When asked to elaborate on his recent words off-air at the Collision and Rampage show, Khan reiterated his statement:
I said, “I think it’s safe to say, I believe AEW is here to stay on TNT and TBS.’ I think that’s true for a very long time and I believe it. I have not put pen to paper. I’m still working on things. It’s an exciting time, without getting too specific, but while giving everybody that anticipation of things to come. There are really exciting things to come for AEW.
Khan was asked if he could provide a percentage on the likelihood of a deal being announced in the next month. Khan responded with”90 percent,” but later added that he is “100% confident the ball is going in the end zone”.
Elsewhere in the media scrum, Tony Khan claimed that AEW is set to create a shockwave through pro wrestling.
Tony Khan “Shocked + Appalled” By Controversial Remarks Targeting Jim Ross
Tony Khan is currently managing a lawsuit from former AEW talents Kevin Kelly, Brent Tate and Brandon Tate’s, and has rushed to defend commentator Jim Ross when he was recently embroiled. Ross – who recently labelled the suit “frivolous” – was lambasted by attorney Stephen P. New, who claimed Ross had been paid by Khan “to do nothing” since joining AEW.