Add as a preferred source on Google More than a year and a half after the WWE-Netflix partnership began, the complete Raw library still isn’t available on the platform.
While fans have access to current episodes and a selection of older shows in a section called “Raw Vault,” a large chunk of the show’s 30-plus-year history is still missing.
In a recent WrestleVotes Radio Q&A, JoeyVotes revealed the reason for the delay in adding that content:
“The reason I heard is this Monday Night Raw contract goes for years, so they will continue to add episodes at their pace and leisure. That’s just what it is, as far as I know.”
TC believes there’s a business strategy behind the gradual rollout, too:
“I think they’re gonna leverage it to try to get more money from Netflix. So it’s like, ‘Hey, we know you guys want it, and if you want to continue to pay the subscription every month, we’re gonna give a little bit here and there.'”
“So it all comes down to money, and WWE does a good job of protecting their library and IP to get the most amount of money from the consumer—or business partners, in this case, Netflix—as they can. That’s what their strategy is: extract money as best they can.”
The original deal runs for an initial 10 years and is worth more than $5 billion. Netflix still has the option to extend it for another 10 years, or opt out after the first five.