ESPN is denying a news report stating they will not be renewing its deal with the WWE when it expires.
“There is no truth to the report that we have decided not to renew. They never checked with us before publishing and had they, we would have told them that was completely false,” stated ESPN in a statement.
SEScoops reported earlier today that: “Multiple sources told SEScoops the deal faced several problems, including the current media market, “culture and synergy” issues between the two companies and the failure of cable providers to pick up the cost of the app for customers.”
They also stated: “There virtually no discussions between the two companies when the app was launched and WWE PLEs began airing on it. That changed recently, with ESPN promoting WWE content, making the PLEs available on lesser tiers and airing the first hour of shows on linear networks, much to the chagrin of sports fans.”
They also claim the deal could be “saved” if more people subscribed to the app or providers carrying the app going forward.
ESPN recently announced a price increase which takes effect September 17, 2026.
ESPN’s New Prices
| Plan | Current Price | September 17 Price |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN Select | $12.99/mo. | $13.99/mo. |
| ESPN Select annual | $129.99 | $139.99 |
| ESPN Unlimited | $29.99/mo. | $31.99/mo. |
| ESPN Unlimited annual | $299.99 | $319.99 |
ESPN and WWE signed a $1.6 billion deal in 2025 to air PLEs on ESPN’s new app.
