Tony Khan is pushing back on concerns about AEW’s television future, and he sounds fully confident the company will remain in a strong position after the proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Khan appeared on Bloomberg TV’s The Close while promoting AEW Double or Nothing in New York. During the appearance, Khan addressed the proposed merger and said he believes it will actually help AEW rather than hurt it.
“I am very excited about Paramount acquiring WB and Paramount and WB coming together. This is going to be great for AEW.”
When Khan was asked directly whether he believes Paramount will keep AEW on its platforms after the merger, he gave a firm answer: “100%.” Khan then explained why he sees the merger as a positive for AEW’s reach, pointing to the combined power of HBO Max and Paramount Plus, along with the future of TBS and TNT.
“With the power of HBO Max and Paramount Plus together, it’s more buyers for our PPVs and more people watching the AEW shows. I think it will make TBS and TNT stronger cable channels with Paramount and David Ellison coming in.”
Khan also brought up his personal relationship with David Ellison, the Paramount Skydance head, through their shared NFL connections. That relationship could become important as AEW navigates its media future under a potentially reshaped corporate structure.
This comes after AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery both pushed back on claims that Tony Khan had been given advance notice about a potential WBD sale or major changes tied to AEW’s deal. The situation has created plenty of speculation because AEW’s current domestic media rights are tied to WBD, while Paramount Skydance already has major business connections to TKO through UFC.
AEW’s current WBD deal runs through 2027, with WBD holding a one-year extension option. AEW Dynamite and Collision currently air on TBS and TNT, while AEW pay-per-views stream on HBO Max in the United States.
For now, Khan is presenting the merger as an opportunity rather than a threat. While the proposed deal still has regulatory hurdles to clear, his public message is clear: he believes AEW will have a place in the combined Paramount-WBD future.
Do you believe Tony Khan’s confidence about AEW’s media future, or do you think the Paramount-WBD merger still creates major uncertainty? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.