Netflix's (NFLX) foray into live sports content has gotten off to a roaring start, with the debut episode of WWE Monday Night Raw on the streaming platform drawing an impressive 4.9 million global views. This marks a significant increase from the show's average viewership of 1.2 million per episode in 2024 on USA Network, indicating a substantial boost in viewership and potential revenue.

The first Raw on Netflix, which aired on January 6, 2025, featured appearances from legendary WWE stars such as The Rock, John Cena, and The Undertaker. The episode also saw title changes and memorable moments, including CM Punk defeating Seth Rollins in the main event, Rhea Ripley becoming the new Women's World Champion, and Jey Uso upsetting Drew McIntyre.

The success of Raw's Netflix debut can be attributed to several factors. First, Netflix's massive global subscriber base of over 282 million subscribers across 190 countries provides WWE with an unprecedented reach. This extensive audience allows WWE to tap into a vast fanbase and attract new viewers who may not have been exposed to the content on traditional linear TV.

Second, WWE's unique blend of scripted sport and entertainment fits perfectly alongside Netflix's current content strategy. The scripted element complements Netflix's existing catalogue, while the sporting element aligns with its array of recent sports documentaries. This complementary content strategy helps to widen the reach of WWE to the whole Netflix subscriber base.

Third, the WWE deal comes with a multitude of ancillary content, such as documentaries, original series, and clips, which can be consumed non-live and slot into Netflix's existing subscription tiers. This auxiliary content helps to further engage viewers and increase the value of the WWE deal for Netflix.

Lastly, the global nature of the WWE deal fits perfectly with Netflix's business model as a service with a wide, distributed geographical subscriber base. Unlike traditional sports rights deals, which are sold by market or region, many elements of the WWE deal are global in nature, making it an attractive proposition for Netflix.

The success of Raw's Netflix debut has significant implications for the broader sports entertainment landscape. WWE's move to a streaming platform could encourage other sports entertainment companies to follow suit, leading to more live events and original content being produced for streaming services. This shift could potentially change the way sports entertainment is consumed and packaged, with streaming platforms becoming increasingly important in the distribution of live content.

In conclusion, Netflix's WWE Monday Night Raw premiere has more than doubled the 2024 USA Network audience, demonstrating the potential for live sports content on streaming platforms. The success of this deal highlights the appeal of WWE's unique blend of scripted sport and entertainment, as well as the global reach and complementary content strategy of Netflix. As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other sports entertainment companies adapt to this new model and the potential impact on the broader industry.