AEW President Tony Khan responded to ongoing speculation about the streaming performance of AEW shows on HBO Max during the 2025 Forbidden Door Post-Show Media Scrum. Since AEW Dynamite and Collision began simulcasting on HBO Max at the start of 2025, rumors have circulated regarding exactly how many viewers the shows attract across HBO Max and traditional cable. Khan acknowledged these reports but clarified that he has not seen the concrete data to confirm or deny them.
Earlier this year, a report suggested that AEW Dynamite averages around 500,000 viewers on HBO Max alone, while some in the wrestling community questioned the accuracy of these numbers. Khan remarked that he was uncertain about the combined viewership figures across both cable and streaming platforms, emphasizing that he does not have direct access to the relevant data yet.
“I don’t know. According to a report I saw, we may be, but I don’t know. All I know is we are one of the top sports shows. I don’t know what the NBA viewership is, I don’t know the NHL viewership. I can compare regular streaming NHL to AEW. I see AEW probably has a good chance at being a very strong league in the Sports tab on HBO Max.” —Tony Khan, AEW President
Insight Into AEW’s Access to HBO Max Metrics
When asked about his access to official viewership data from HBO Max, Khan admitted that AEW currently remains in the dark regarding detailed streaming numbers. Unlike the comprehensive data he receives for AEW programming aired on TBS, the information supplied by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for HBO Max viewership remains limited or unavailable to him at this stage.
Khan expressed that he would proactively analyze the data if it were provided to him in the future, hinting at potential deeper collaboration with HBO Max moving forward. However, for now, he must rely on external reports and comparisons since the true metrics are still undisclosed.
“There are going to be more opportunities to build relationships with HBO Max. But I honestly can’t say exactly. I don’t have remotely, not even 1%, the amount of data that I get on a TBS show. If they gave it to me, I’d be breaking it down.” —Tony Khan, AEW President
Uncertain Future for AEW Streaming Numbers Visibility
The lack of transparent viewership data adds an element of uncertainty for AEW as it expands its presence on HBO Max. Understanding audience size through official metrics is crucial for gauging the promotion’s growth and negotiating future deals with broadcasters or streaming platforms. Khan’s cautious statements underline the current challenges AEW faces in obtaining clear performance indicators from its HBO Max content.
As WBD continues to develop its streaming strategy for all its sports and entertainment content, AEW fans and insiders will be watching closely for any eventual release of concrete viewership statistics on HBO Max. Such information could determine how AEW positions itself within the competitive sports and entertainment market, especially against other leagues like the NBA and NHL.
