WWE seeks free-to-air highlights broadcaster in the UK

The WWE wrestling organisation is talking to broadcasters about a free-to-air highlights package in the UK, SportBusiness Media understands.

The rights will start from 2020, but the end-date is, as yet, undefined and may depend on the identity of the successful party. A decision is expected in the coming weeks.

WWE has created the free-to-air package to increase exposure for its property.

It would mark the first time WWE was free-to-air in the UK since the early 2000s when commercial broadcaster Channel 4 showed a highlights show and some main events.

The free-to-air highlights have been carved out of the main multi-year rights package WWE recently agreed with pay-television broadcaster BT Sport, which starts in 2020.

BT won the rights from rival pay-television broadcaster Sky, which has shown WWE for the best part of three decades.