AEW is set to improve its production quality, including enhancing the in-arena experience, according to Mike Mansury. Mansury, who serves as AEW’s EVP and Head of Global Production, shared these updates during an interview with Sports Video. The upgrades come as part of AEW’s new multi-year media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
As part of the agreement, AEW will have access to WBD’s upgraded production trucks, including the Live Media Group’s IP-based mobile facilities, which will be used for global events. This move is expected to elevate the company’s production capabilities, both in the arena and for televised broadcasts. Below are some key highlights from Mansury’s comments:
Mike Mansury on the upgrade plans:
“We want to create a nice split between the live event and TV show, just to make that experience for those in the house feel a bit more special. The idea was getting more IP-based with everything that we are doing. How can we get AEW to be more towards the cutting edge? That’s always the challenge with our line of work. We’re not quite sport; we’re not quite entertainment. We’re a lovely hybrid. How do we take our form of content and intertwine technology into it that leaves us at the cutting edge and allows us to be trendsetters as opposed to followers?”
Mike Mansury on the in-arena experience plans for AEW:
“Starting in 2025, you’ll see more of a sports-style presentation in-arena in terms of being able to entertain the audience when there isn’t in-ring content or taped content happening as part of the television broadcast. We want to create a nice split between the live event and TV show, just to make that experience for those in the house feel a bit more special.”
This is good news for AEW, because they have to do something to help their attendance.