Disney’s ESPN has secured exclusive U.S. streaming rights to WWE’s marquee live events, including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series, in a five-year agreement valued at roughly $1.6 billion, according to people familiar with the terms. The deal averages about $325 million a year and begins in 2026, when NBCUniversal’s Peacock pact expires. All 10 premium WWE events each year will be offered on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service, expected to cost $29.99 a month, with select shows simulcast on ESPN’s television networks. The arrangement expands ESPN’s portfolio beyond traditional sports as it prepares to launch the streaming platform and replaces Peacock, which has paid about $180 million annually for the same package. The agreement deepens ties between ESPN and TKO Group-controlled WWE, complementing an earlier $5 billion, 10-year global deal that moved “Monday Night Raw” to Netflix this year. Executives from both companies said the partnership should broaden WWE’s audience and help ESPN reach younger and more diverse viewers.