The Future of AEW Programming: Potential Expansion to Six Hours

AEW CEO Tony Khan recently expressed his openness to expanding AEW programming from five to six hours weekly.

Khan believes there is a strong chance that AEW fans will see more content in the near future. The move to six hours could be a lucrative opportunity, as it would provide more advertising slots and enhance AEW’s presence on television.

Khan stated in an interview with CBS Sports, “I love being able to do more follow-up with things that happened earlier in the night with more time. Being able to cover more wrestlers and tell more stories, utilize more of the roster. I think it gives more opportunities when we have that three-hour block. I want to do at least five now. I’ve tasted blood and want more so I could easily be sold on doing more than five hours of programming…”

He added, “You want to keep Dynamite as strong as possible. You look at the history of what happened with the two-hour wrestling show when that show was expanded to three hours. It’s interesting right now per hour the most we get per hour for any of our TV shows is Dynamite. Either way, five-hour weekly programming is the absolute minimum. So in some ways, you would say, ‘That would be a very lucrative opportunity.’ I think it’s a very interesting conversation to have about how many nights a week you allocate to programming. Is five hours the best? Should we do six?”

AEW’s Current Programming Schedule

Currently, AEW airs three shows weekly:

• Dynamite: Two hours on Wednesday nights.
• Collision: Two hours on Saturday nights.
• Rampage: One hour on Friday nights.

Potential Expansion Plans

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Tony Khan discussed the possibility of increasing AEW’s programming to six hours per week. This expansion could involve:

• Extending Dynamite to three hours.
• Combining Collision and Rampage into a three-hour block.

Benefits of Additional Programming

Khan emphasized the advantages of longer programming blocks:

• More Storytelling: Extra time allows for more detailed storylines and follow-ups within the same night.
• Increased Roster Utilization: With more hours, a greater number of wrestlers can be featured, providing opportunities for underutilized talent.
• Greater Flexibility: Longer shows enable more creative freedom and flexibility in show planning.

Challenges and Considerations

While Khan is enthusiastic about the expansion, he acknowledges potential challenges:

• Maintaining Quality: Ensuring the additional hour doesn’t dilute the quality of the flagship show, Dynamite.
• Historical Precedents: Khan is mindful of the history of wrestling shows expanding to three hours and the mixed outcomes that followed.
• Viewer Engagement: Balancing additional content with maintaining strong viewer engagement.

Future of AEW Programming

Khan believes there is a strong chance that AEW fans will see more content in the near future. The move to six hours could be a lucrative opportunity, as it would provide more advertising slots and enhance AEW’s presence on television.

As AEW continues to grow, Khan remains committed to delivering high-quality wrestling entertainment while exploring innovative ways to engage the audience and utilize the talented roster.