Netflix, WWE ramp up wrestling worldwide

New episodes of 'Raw' will stream weekly

Netflix's next venture into live programming started on Monday when the company streamed its first episode of Raw, the weekly World Wrestling Entertainment spectacle that has been a staple of US television for three decades, reporter Reuters.

WWE executives are moving their flagship show from Comcast's USA Network to the new streaming home with hopes that they can bring in more fans of all ages around the world.

"When you look at Netflix and its global reach and the power of its brand, it was time that our brand met up with theirs," said WWE President Nick Khan.

Netflix agreed to pay more than $5 billion for rights to show Raw and other WWE programming including Smackdown and Wrestlemania over 10 years, part of the streaming service's move into live events that are attractive to advertisers.

WWE rose to popularity with colourful characters such as Hulk Hogan and future movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in ongoing storylines that hooked viewers.

One fan was Bela Bejaria, now the chief content officer at Netflix. She recalled watching outsized personalities such as Hogan, Randy Savage and Andre the Giant with her grandfather after her family moved to Los Angeles when she was nine.

"It turns out that my experience of watching wrestling with my family isn't that unusual," Bejaria said. "They have a huge multi-generational fan base with a roster of stars and exciting drama." Today, the WWE has more than 1 billion followers across social media, Bejaria said.

"Combining the intensity of WWE fans with the fandom and reach of Netflix just made sense," she said.

Raw will stream live every Monday exclusively on Netflix in the United States, Canada, Latin America and other territories. It will arrive on Netflix in some countries later this year, including India in April. In 2025, WWE will stage more Raw and Smackdown events in international markets and aims to find superstars around the world.