AEW & WBD Need Each Other Right Now

 

Much has been made about AEW's June 19th edition of Dynamite and it's 0.16 rating Dynamite rating last week. Even with on demand and streaming, ratings still matters as that is how advertisers and networks negotiate ad rates etc. While there were several excuses including NBA playoffs, the beautiful weather in most of the country, even the fact Black Panther was the lead in as opposed to Big Bang Theory. 

There have some rumblings this could be spell trouble for AEW with their current deal with Warner Bros. Discovery about to expire, and negotiations ongoing for a new deal. Since AEW debuted the two companies have been pretty good partners to one another. AEW has Dynamite on TBS, with Rampage and Collision on TNT. The quarterly Battle Of The Belts events are also held on TNT. A few specials appeared on the Bleacher Report Live app during the companies early run. AEW even had a reality show on TBS called AEW All Access. There has been crossovers like Shark Week and Game of Thrones and much more to support that corporate synergy. 

There has been a lot put into the partnership since 2019, that it would be surreal to see them separate. More importantly though is right now, both companies need one another. Warner Bros. Discovery is still reeling from their merger in 2022. Along with some of CEO's David Zaslav blunders regarding some of his decision's since the merger. The biggest one is sticking his foot in his mouth and losing out on NBA TV rights during the renewal period. 

Which means in the 2025-2026 season, the NBA on TNT will be no more. Even with rights to Hockey, baseball, and NCAA March Madness tournament, WBD still needs all the help they can get. The cable channels just like channels of other conglomerates are holding on for life, Warner Bros. Studios hasnt turned out hits. The max streaming app is decent, but the decision to shelve completed films for tax breaks soured alot of people. The companies share prices is currently under $10 and public opinion is not high on Zaslav right now.

Meanwhile AEW is going through a bit of a creative dry spell right now. They haven't been able to keep the attention spans of casuals and the fanbase has been quite disgruntled at some of Tony Khan's decision. Probably more so his tone deaf and often times idiotic tweets. Good and great matches are still occurring on their programs, but that red hot buzz the company first had has long flamed out. 

The Mercedes Mone deal so far is very meh, The Elite vs Tony Khan story is very polarizing with most fans preferring both Tony and The Young Bucks go away, hell maybe even Jack Perry. There still is an reliance on former WWE castoffs, and AEW has not truly made their own true superstars yet. Not all is lost with the company, but they have to really sit down and reevaluate some things.

Even thought there are concerns about the negotiations between the two parties on a new deal. I personally feel it will work out, because both organizations are in a bit of a disarray right now. They need one another while they sort out their individual messes.