Backstage Update on WWE and NBCUniversal TV Negotiations

It was recently revealed that WWE and NBCUniversal were negotiating terms for a new contract in regards to WWE’s live television broadcasts and distribution. NBCUniversal was said to have been offering to construct a physical WWE Hall of Fame as a means to sweeten their offer to World Wrestling Entertainment, in hopes of keeping the company’s programming on it’s networks. However, a new report from the New York Post claims that NBCUniversal and WWE could indeed be parting ways as early as Feb. 14, 2014.

The report states that the exclusive negotiating period between the two parties ended last week with no deal being struck. Apparently, WWE is putting pressure on NBCUniversal to accept their final offer, giving them until Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14 to sign the dotted line.

While no one knows for sure just what the WWE is asking NBCU to pay for “Monday Night Raw” and “Smackdown,” reports suggest that it is greater than $140 million, which is what the last deal between the two parties was.

With Viacom (SpikeTV, Comedy Central) and Turner Broadcasting (TBS, TNT) wanting a shot at WWE’s live television programs, NBCU will have to fork out the big bucks in order to keep “Monday Night Raw” and “Smackdown” at home where they want them.