ESPN has pursued securing the WWE Raw ESPN rights for some time, according to Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content. During a conversation with sports media reporter Richard Deitsch, Magnus acknowledged the network’s ongoing ambition to feature live WWE programming, emphasizing a longstanding admiration for the brand’s entertainment value.
Attempts to Acquire WWE Rights and Past Coverage
Magnus revealed that he made several efforts to acquire the WWE Raw and SmackDown broadcast rights, as well as the WWE Network, but did not specify the details or timing of those attempts. He noted that ESPN previously aired historical WrestleMania events during the pandemic, underscoring their connection to WWE content.
“I took a couple of runs at the Raw and SmackDown packages and the WWE Network previously. I’ve had a great appreciation for this content for a long time,”
Magnus said.
While Magnus is not deeply familiar with current WWE storylines, he expressed respect for the promotion’s success as a form of entertainment.
“I have a full appreciation for what they’ve built over there in terms of a great form of entertainment and clearly, the results speak for themselves in terms of how many fans they pack in arenas and stadiums. It’s remarkable,”
he explained.
Discussing WWE’s Coverage and ESPN’s Approach
When asked about how ESPN intends to cover WWE news and storylines, Magnus described discussions as
“a really active conversation to date.”
He indicated that the coverage would align with the nature of WWE as entertainment.
“In the context of what WWE is,”
Magnus said, the network aims to present the content thoughtfully without treating it strictly as traditional sports news.
Future Plans Including Pat McAfee’s Role
Magnus also mentioned ESPN’s interest in retaining Pat McAfee, an occasional WWE announcer, after his College GameDay contract ends in May 2028. McAfee appeared as part of WWE’s desk during Wrestlepalooza, the first premium live event under ESPN’s five-year WWE agreement. It is widely anticipated that ESPN will also become a major platform for WWE archive content when Peacock’s domestic rights expire at the end of this year.
The Significance of ESPN’s WWE Programming Ambitions
ESPN’s efforts to acquire WWE Raw rights highlight the network’s expansion into live entertainment sports programming, reflecting WWE’s broad fan appeal and unique position within the entertainment industry. With ongoing conversations about coverage strategy and key talent involvement, ESPN seems positioned to deepen its relationship with WWE, potentially reshaping how wrestling content is presented to a mainstream sports audience.
