Variety have a new article online featuring details of WWE’s efforts to negotiate a new TV deal domestically, noting that the company will begin shopping the rights to WWE RAW, WWE SmackDown, WWE Main Event, WWE Saturday Morning Slam and Total Divas all at the same time next month in an effort to increase the $139.5m that the WWE earn annually for their TV licensing fees and that the company are seeking a deal similar to what organizations such as the NBA, NHL, MLS and NASCAR command.

The report notes that the WWE have planned for the rights to expire simultaneously in an effort to package everything together and sell it as one, feeling that their programming is more valuable than ever and are pointing to NASCAR’s new 10-year deal with NBC and FOX worth around $8 billion by stating that their programming draws higher ratings annually. The WWE noted that combined, they air 156 episodes per year that average a 2.2 household rating, while NASCAR airs 154 races per year and averages a 1.38 household rating, while also stating that their audience is more diverse, especially amongst age groups and that 44% of the WWE audience is under the age of 34.

The report further notes that the company would consider moving WWE SmackDown to a two-hour live show on a different night in return for a better fee, as well as air replays of WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown on their respective networks and that formal negotiations and bids can’t take place until February 15th, 2014, when NBC Universal will have the opportunity to accept or reject the WWE’s final offer, while other bids are due by February 28th, 2014, with WWE selecting its media partners by March 4th, 2014. Variety also report that should a move happen, the move wouldn’t happen until October 2014, however there is a belief that NBC Universal will not let the WWE go, due to the vital role WWE programming plays to the success of their networks.

Variety also report that WWE pay-per-view events will not be part of any deal, as they will air when the WWE Network launch, noting that WWE sees the channel as something that they can break even on with 800,000 to 1 million subscribers willing to pay $10-$14 per month upon launch.

The article is available in full at this link.