Reelz announces deal with Peacock, MLW programming to be excluded

[Chris]

Reelz has reached a deal with Peacock -- but MLW content won't be included.

It was announced on Tuesday that Reelz and Peacock have agreed to a deal to bring Reelz's linear channel and on-demand programming to Peacock starting this Wednesday. But because of Peacock's exclusivity with WWE, the linear channel won't be available when MLW Underground is airing.

"There is one quirk under the Reelz deal: While it will include the channel’s live linear feed, it will not stream Tuesdays in the 10 p.m. hour, as Reelz airs Major League Wrestling in that hour," the Hollywood Reporter wrote. "Peacock has a streaming deal with the WWE, which has exclusivity in the category on Peacock."

MLW Underground made its debut on Peacock on February 7. Last week's East Coast airing of the show averaged 97,000 viewers and drew a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demo. It was MLW's best viewership on Reelz to date.

Earlier this month, the Northern District of California's U.S. District Court granted WWE's request to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit that MLW filed against them. MLW was granted 21 days to submit an amended complaint or appeal.

MLW owner Court Bauer stated that their legal team was already working on amending the complaint. "We have every intention to continue pursuing our case against WWE," Bauer said in a statement to PWInsider.

The antitrust lawsuit claimed that WWE pressured third parties like Tubi and Vice to abandon contracts and prospective relationships with MLW.

 

[Dale]

A little extra spice to add to the on-going drama between the two.

 

[Chris]

I'm no lawyer but I'd argue there's a difference between "sports entertainment" and "wrestling" and WWE only has exclusive rights on Peacock as sports entertainment

 

[Necro]

That is a very interesting twist.

 

[Wiseman]

I'm no lawyer but I'd argue there's a difference between "sports entertainment" and "wrestling" and WWE only has exclusive rights on Peacock as sports entertainment

Only the smartest know there's a difference between sports entertainment and wrestling. Granted when you have Hammerstone I would beg to say MLW leans more towards sports entertainment.

 

[Dale]

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[#Waddles]

What's Reelz?

 

[O-Blaze]

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Well. What the fuck?

 

[Comrade Khan]

Court taking some Ls this week damn

 

[O-Blaze]

At first I was going to say this would help out their case against WWE, but seems it was always a 10 week deal, which seems odd but if that’s the case then it probably won’t help them out in the whole thing.

 

[Chris]

Court taking some Ls this week damn

Gotta be used to it at this point lmao

 

[Dale]

REELZ issued the following statement to PWInsider.com regarding the status of MLW Underground on the cable network:

"No decisions have been made by MLW or REELZ and we are both committed to a good outcome for MLW, its fans and REELZ."

Variety reported earlier this week that MLW would "wrap up" in ten weeks.​

 

[Tremendez]

If MLW gets kicked off Reelz as well as kept off Peacock, that could go a long way in proving legit damages in their lawsuit.

 

[Dale]

Not so sure about that, if they just signed the exclusivity deal recently then I imagine it could have been a problem

 

[Dale]

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