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ESPN Reaches Landmark 5-Year Deal with WWE to Become Exclusive Domestic Home of its Premium Live Events Including ‘WrestleMania’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: WWE

The WWE continues to strike new partnerships as its product is at an all-time high. Now, ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and the pro wresting organization, part of TKO Group Holdings Inc, has announced a landmark rights agreement for ESPN Platforms to become the exclusive U.S. Domestic home of all WWE premium live including, WrestleMania, starting in 2026.

The five-year 1.6 billion dollar deal is part of ESPN’s new Direct-to-Consumer (DIC) Service which will now not only stream ‘Mania’ but next year’s, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank and more. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile WWE events of the year, which have been for years on NBCUniversal’s streamer, Peacock.

The Disney-controlled sports and entertainment business will pay an average of $325 million per year for five years of U.S. rights to the WWE’s biggest live events, according to sources at CNBC. Previously, NBCUniversal’s Peacock had previously paid $180 million per year over five years for the package. In terms of upcoming cost for consumers, all 10 of the WWE’s premium live events each year will stream on ESPN’s new service as what is being reported at $29.99 per month subscription or $299.99 a year.

Photo: WWE

The new streamer set to launch on August 21st also includes content from all of ESPN’s linear networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes) as well as content from ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX. It provides access to 47,000 live events annually, along with on-demand content and original programming and more.

ESPN platforms, including its DTC service, will have the opportunity to stream WWE’s pre-and post-event shows tied to all premium live events and for the first time, the new sports service with the slogan “All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming Soon,” will offer a full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multi-view options and a personalized SportsCenter For You.

The service is designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package.

On the new WWE and ESPN domestic premium live events rights deal, Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN, said in a statement: “WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”

Photo: WWE

Nick Khan, President, WWE offered up, “WWE’s agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media. Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.”

Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO added: “We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”

You can take a look at the first-look trailer for ESPN’s new streamer era set to begin this fall below.

Now, let us know what you think of the WWE exiting Peacock and landing with ESPN for all its major premium-live events and more come 2026.

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What in Hell’s name is going on over at Di$ney Inc. this week?

Spinning off ESPN into a stand alone app (no cable required), which is good. Though the price point is ridiculous. Adding the NFL Network and the WWE to it. Which is also good, but again.. not really justifying $30/month.

Meanwhile, they have also announced plans to “disappear” Hulu (now that they own it out right) and roll the content into the Di$ney + app. Which is pretty much how the “Hulu produced” content is already distributed outside of the US.

Question is, will General Hospital be available on this “new” single Di$ney app, once Hulu disappears?? Because it’s going to be a big problem if it’s only available at abc.com, which will NOT let you stream the show, unless you have a paid subscription to one of the US cable oligopolies. That’s not an option, when you live in Hell!

And to further add to the confusion… Hulu’s “live TV” operations will also likely cease to exist, as they appear to be making some sort of deal with Fubo to take over those operations.

Geezus, and I thought the Paramount & Warner Discovery corporate soap operas were confusing….

I’d prefer they were all broken up, back to their pre-1996 levels, if I had my unholy way.

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Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless

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It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.

In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.

However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.

Photo: JPI

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.

Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall.  It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.

With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.

So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.

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Breaking News

Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30

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Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.

The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.

The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”

Photo: ABC

ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW

As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.

O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”

Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”

You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.

Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.

 

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A post shared by Kyle Ridley (@kyleridley_)

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)

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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.

Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).

In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.

Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:

Photo: HutchinsPhoroi

GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com

Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.

Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.

Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.

So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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