Tony Khan held a media call on Tuesday to promote this Sunday’s AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view event.
During the call, the AEW President was asked whether he’d talk to FOX executives about All Elite Wrestling’s media rights when they expire in 2024.
You can check out some highlights from the media call below:
On potentially talking with FOX about their media rights: “I don’t think it would be fair to talk about possible bidders or outright speculation. Right now, we’re on Warner Brothers Discovery and I find that in the entertainment business, there is not a lot of loyalty at times, and there should be. This is a family business, we’re not a public company. Even if I get punched in the face with circumstances, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to take it out on staff by cutting 100 staff or laying off 30 wrestlers. I really care about the people here and I would do anything I can to protect the jobs and livelihood of the people who that work here. That’s a family business, and that’s the difference between a family business and a public company in a lot of ways. Not every family business has those principles, but we do, and that’s how I was raised. I feel there is not enough loyalty in the entertainment business. Yes, it’s no secret, and it is a business. We’ll be up at the end of 2024 and I would love to stay at Warner Brothers Discovery forever.”
On being happy with Warner Bros. Discovery: “It’s great for the fans to have wrestling on TBS and TNT. I do think there will be a lot of potential bidders. [FOX] would make a lot of sense in the future, but I don’t think it’s right for me to speculate right now because I’m at Warner Brothers Discovery, I love it here, and we’re going to be here for a while, and hopefully a really long time. They have given us these great opportunities. I see it all the time, and sometimes I’m on the other side of it as the promoter, on the other side of the negotiating table, and I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me and it would not be right to speculation on other networks or people in the wrestling business. I have a great relationship with the people you named [Fox] because we worked together on the NFL and that’s a great place for sports and wrestling, but I’m really happy at Warner Brothers Discovery and my goal, all things being equal, would be to keep AEW here forever at WBD. Mr. Zaslav [WBD CEO David Zaslav] has been really kind to me and given me great opportunities and all things being equal or even a couple cents difference, I would take a penny or two less to stay at Warner Brothers Discovery. You don’t see that in media businesses very much, that kind of loyalty. I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me and continue to do.”
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Tony Khan, the President of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), recently held a media call to promote the upcoming AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view event. During the call, he was asked about the possibility of discussing AEW’s media rights with FOX executives when they expire in 2024.
Khan responded by expressing his belief that loyalty is lacking in the entertainment business. He emphasized that AEW is a family business and that he values the well-being of his staff and wrestlers. Even if faced with challenging circumstances, he stated that he would do everything in his power to protect their jobs and livelihoods. Khan highlighted the difference between a family business and a public company, noting that not all family businesses prioritize these principles.
Regarding AEW’s current partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, Khan expressed his happiness with the arrangement. He mentioned that having wrestling on TBS and TNT is great for the fans. While acknowledging that there may be potential bidders for AEW’s media rights in the future, he refrained from speculating or discussing other networks or individuals in the wrestling business. Khan stated that he appreciates everything Warner Bros. Discovery has done for him and expressed his desire to stay with them for a long time. He praised the loyalty shown by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and stated that he would even accept a slightly lower offer to remain with the company.
Overall, Tony Khan’s comments during the media call reflect his commitment to his staff and wrestlers, as well as his satisfaction with AEW’s current partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. While he acknowledged the possibility of exploring other options when AEW’s media rights expire in 2024, he expressed a strong desire to continue working with Warner Bros. Discovery due to their loyalty and the opportunities they have provided.
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