The CW signs WWE NXT PLE, ESPN App deals
April 29, 2026
By Nik Roseveare
The CW Network and WWE have announced that all NXT Premium Live Events (PLEs) henceforth will air exclusively on The CW. Beginning with The Great American Bash later on July 12th, The CW will broadcast 20 PLEs in their entirety live on both coasts over the next several years, including Stand and Deliver, Deadline and Vengeance Day.
With the addition of NXT PLEs to The CW’s lineup, the network is now the exclusive home for all NXT programming in the US – which showcases WWE’s next generation of talent – also airing weekly live NXT installments every Tuesday night. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs.
“WWE NXT has energised our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” commented Brad Schwartz, President, The CW Network. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”
“The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” added Shawn Michaels (pictured), WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative.
Launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘HHH’ Levesque, NXT has aired weekly since 2012 and features upcoming talent. Several WrestleMania 42 participants were developed under the NXT banner, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. Led by Michaels, NXT on The CW has showcased the rise of several ascending WWE Superstars, including Oba Femi, Trick Williams, Tiffany Stratton, Roxanne Perez, Je’Von Evans and Sol Ruca.
Additionally, The CW Network and ESPN are teaming up to make the ESPN App the exclusive streaming home for all CW Sports live events. All CW Sports will broadcast live on The CW Network as well as stream live on the ESPN App for fans with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan, including live coverage of WWE NXT, college football and men’s and women’s basketball from the ACC, Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, PBA Bowling, PBR Bull Riding, AVP volleyball and the 2026 Arizona Bowl. Fans with an ESPN Unlimited plan subscription will have the opportunity to watch all CW Sports offerings live on any device with the ESPN App as a complement to The CW’s free over-the-air broadcast model nationwide, while advertisers will extend reach to new audiences across all digital platforms. CW Sports on the ESPN App is expected to launch in Summer 2026.
“Joining forces with ESPN is a monumental next step in the evolution of CW Sports,” said Brad Schwartz, President, The CW Network. “The CW now offers more than 800 hours of premium live sports per year. This agreement extends the reach of CW Sports and enables us to capture audiences across the best of broadcast and the best of streaming, ensuring fans can access live CW Sports wherever they are and on whatever device they prefer. This new partnership will allow us to connect seamlessly with our audiences everywhere—from football and basketball to motorsports, professional wrestling, bowling, bull riding, and much more to come as CW Sports continues its exciting march forward.”
“Bringing CW Sports to the ESPN App is another step in delivering more value, choice and flexibility for fans, expanding the range of live sports available within our streaming ecosystem,” added Rosalyn Durant, Executive Vice President, ESPN Programming & Acquisitions. “This agreement gives fans even more live sports to watch year-round within the ESPN Unlimited plan, while extending the reach of CW Sports to new audiences. As we continue to evolve ESPN’s direct-to-consumer experience, collaborations like this allow us to better serve fans by making more of the sports they love available in one place.”
In the UK and Ireland and throughout Europe, NXT streams live on Netflix.