WarnerMedia and Tony Khan comment on AEW moving to TBS and more
As we previously reported, AEW CEO and President Tony Khan renegotiated his deal with WarnerMedia that includes Dynamite moving to TBS next year, along with a new TV show and four quarterly specials on TNT.
Brett Weitz, General Manager of TBS, TNT and truTV, spoke with The NY Daily News regarding AEW Dynamite moving to TBS in 2022, the new Rampage television show on Friday night’s beginning August 13, and the four quarterly “Supercard” shows coming to TNT next year.
Weitz said he doesn’t view AEW vs. WWE as an “us vs. them” thing, as AEW Rampage will not air head-to-head with WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, which ends at 10:00 pm ET each Friday night. He then went on to say that “More wrestling is better for wrestling fans,” Weitz said. He also noted that as it pertains to the four “Supercard” specials, he is working with Tony Khan on crafting the specials.
When asked by The Wrap about the recent 7-year NHL deal with WarnerMedia, Weitz said the following:
“Sure, NHL had something to do with it…the NBA had something to do with it. The new college schedule, with a ton of preemptions. And so we look to where we believe the consumer is going to be and where wrestling fans are going to be. We want to give them the most opportunity to consume as many shows as possible. We felt TBS had an opportunity, really, to be the network and the best platform for expansion.”
Sam Linsky, the Associate General Manager and Senior Vice President of Programming & Operations at TBS, TNT and truTV, speaking with Deadline and The Wrap, said the network is looking forward to helping Tony Khan expand AEW. “It’s a pleasure to be able to help Tony Khan expand his wrestling fiefdom across our networks and bring more content to our fans that fits the thrill ride brand of TNT and good time of TBS,” Linsky said. “It’s Wednesday. You know what that means.”
Tony Khan made the following statement to The Wrap about Dynamite moving to TBS:
“As a lifelong wrestling aficionado who is privileged to present AEW to longtime and new fans alike, it means a lot to me — personally and professionally — to share the news that All Elite Wrestling will call TBS home beginning in 2022. The history of wrestling in the United States cannot be told without acknowledging the contributions of TBS, which as WTBS years ago delivered wrestling to the Southeast and eventually to a massive national audience. TBS has the same passion for wrestling today, but will offer AEW and our fans more prime time programming, content and global opportunities that will establish TBS as the world’s undisputed destination for wrestling.”