Netflix, WWE Agree to Exclusive 'Raw' Streaming Deal; TKO Adds 'The Rock' to Board
The WWE’s Monday Night Raw will stream exclusively on Netflix starting in January 2025, parent company TKO Group announced Tuesday. Agreeing to a 10-year deal worth a reported $5 billion, this arrangement also marks the end of a longstanding partnership between Raw and NBCUniversal, as the flagship program aired on USA Network from 1993 to 2000 and again from 2005 to present. In October, USA Network will be the new home to WWE‘s SmackDown. TKO Group Holdings — which, on the same day, also added Dwayne Johnson to its Board of Directors as well as gave him full ownership of “The Rock” nickname — the stock was up more than 18% in early Tuesday trading following the WWE to Netflix news.
Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung has more on the big moves made by the WWE on Tuesday.
Andre 3000 & His Flute to Tour in New York, Los Angeles & More
Andre 3000 is hitting the road with his flute in tow. On Wednesday, the rapper announced on Instagram he will be visiting several cities in support of his debut solo album, New Blue Sun. A total of 29 intimate shows will be played in New York, L.A., Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco, including a three-night residency at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in Manhattan. The jaunt wraps on March 9 with a five-night run at LA’s The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Andre 3000 will be joined by collaborators Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, and Deantoni Parks. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time.
Netflix Outperforms Expectations, Reaches New Subscriber Record
Netflix added 13.1 million subscribers in Q4, reaching a new high of 260.8 million total paid subscribers. The streamer far outpaced expectations that forecasted it would attract between 8 and 9 million new members. The strong earnings report rounded out a big Tuesday for the streaming giant, as it led all platforms with 18 Academy Award nominations in addition to the announcing that it will be the new home of WWE Monday Night Raw beginning in January 2025.
Chiefs-Bills Breaks NFL Viewership Record as Most-watched Divisional Playoff Game Ever
Sunday night’s divisional round thriller between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills proved to be a ratings boom for the NFL, averaging 50.3 million viewers on CBS. It is now the most-watched divisional playoff game ever, beating last year’s Sunday night divisional playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, which recorded 45.6 million viewers. Kansas City’s win also became the most-watched program on any network since Super Bowl LVII, in which the Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles. Kansas City will face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon in the AFC Championship, followed immediately by the NFC Championship between the Niners and the Detroit Lions.
Led by Bitcoin & Ethereum, Number of Crypto Owners Grew Significantly in 2023
A new report published by Crypto.com found that global ownership of digital assets grew by 34% last year, with the user base growing from 432 million in January to 580 million by year’s end. The crypto research also indicated that Bitcoin (BTC) saw exceptional spikes in April and May, alongside Ethereum‘s (ETH) major network upgrade event in Shanghai, which implemented staking and other features. Bitcoin owners rose 33% to 296 million in 2023, while Ethereum owners grew by 39% to 124 million. Finally, BTC and ETH accounted for 51% and 21% of all crypto owners, respectively.
Zhang & Thompson to Join McIlroy, Homa in First Co-ed Lineup for 'The Match'
Capital One’s “The Match” is back, but this time with a twist. For the first time in the event’s young history, two female golfers will join the fun, as LPGA stars Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson will play alongside four-time major champion Rory McIlroy and six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa. The 2024 iteration will be a 12-hole competition held on Monday, Feb. 26, at The Park Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Fla. Each hole on the course will hold a specific dollar amount going to charity, and the golfer that raises the most at the end of the event will be declared the winner. This year’s nonprofit is First Tee, a youth organization that aims to develop children’s social skills through golf. The competition will broadcast live across TNT networks at 6:30 p.m. ET.