WWE’s groundbreaking deal to bring Monday Night Raw to Netflix in January 2025 has sparked extensive debate about the show’s style and presentation. While initial reports suggested a return to the usual three-hour broadcast, current information indicates that the runtime is still being discussed.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is carefully analyzing the implications of its existing overseas television agreements, many of which require a consistent runtime for Raw. This creates a unique difficulty since, unlike traditional broadcasters, Netflix allows for greater flexibility in programming length.
The incorporation of advertising complicates matters even more. A extended runtime could theoretically lead to more ad revenue, although the specific implementation inside the Netflix ecosystem is unknown. It is unclear whether Netflix will use unique ad forms or establish an ad-free subscription tier to accommodate viewer preferences.
WrestleVotes on Sportskeeda’s Backstage Patreon reported a few weeks ago that SmackDown will move to a three-hour schedule beginning in January.
The switch to Netflix marks a historic moment for the company. This deal is likely to increase WWE’s global reach, as Netflix is available in more than 80 percent of the world.
