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The New York Post is reporting that Valentines Day, February 14, is do or die day for NBC Universal to make an acceptable offer to WWE that will keep the company's programming on their networks. The exclusive negotiating period between the sides has ended and if a deal is not reached by next Friday, WWE will look to other companies for offers.
They are quoting an industry source as saying, "NBCU has until Friday, Feb. 14, to respond to WWE’s final offer."
I have heard from two well placed WWE sources that concur that no deal has been reached yet between WWE and NBC. One source told me that while the company appreciates its relationship with NBCU and does not want to move if it doesn't have to (as that creates confusion in the marketplace), they will if NBC doesn't make the offer that the company is looking for. With the ability to show Raw and Smackdown replays on the WWE Network, the feeling internally is that they will not have a problem with fans finding the product if they change networks. WWE has felt for years that their programming has been undervalued and Vince McMahon is determined to get what he feels is market value on this contract.
The company has done a fantastic job setting up this situation by making sure all of their TV deals expire at the same time so that they can sell them as a package.
The risk is that if they turn down NBCU's "best offer" and solicit elsewhere, if no one steps up, then NBCU will have all the power in negotiations going forward.
You can read the story by clicking here.
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