U.S.-Based WWE Fans Hit by Planned Peacock Price Increase
WWE fans based in the U.S. will soon have to pay more to catch all the action due to a planned increase to the price of Peacock.
Variety reports that the NBCUniversal streaming service will increase its prices starting on August 17. Users who have the Peacock Premium service (which includes advertisements) will see costs rise by one dollar from $4.99 to $5.99. Subscribers to Peacock Premium Plus (with no advertisements) will see prices rise by two dollars from $9.99 per month to $11.99. This marks the first increase to Peacock's prices since the service launched.
In January 2021, WWE announced that NBCUniversal had acquired the exclusive U.S. distribution rights to WWE Network. The standalone WWE Network ceased operations in the United States on April 4, 2021, but continues on in other countries. Peacock's control of the WWE Network has resulted in some edits to historical footage that didn't meet up with NBCUniversal's standards. Perhaps the biggest example of this is the removal of the WrestleMania VI match between Roddy Piper and Bad News Brown for which Piper painted half his body black to taunt his African American opponent.
In a discussion with LightShed Partners earlier this year, WWE CEO Nick Khan said that at the time, the company was not discussing the renewal process for their WWE Network and Premium Live Event licensing deal to Peacock. WWE's deal with Peacock is up just months after the UFC's deal with ESPN which is in 2025.
Khan added that it is WWE's preference to license the WWE Network product, but that if it can't be done for the right price, they will just take it back in-house.
