Report : Raw Staying With NBC Universal, Smackdown will not.

Duffman · May 16, 2018

Source: PWInsider

With all the talk of the future of World Wrestling Entertainment's broadcast home in the United States, Matthew Beloni, Editorial Director for The Hollywood Reporter has put forth a report stating that Raw would be remaining on the USA Network, getting as much as three times its current rate from the cable network. NBC, however, intends to let Smackdown go and allow other cable networks to bid on WWE's Tuesday night series.

If that is the case and this report is correct, it would mean that NBC Universal would be waiving their exclusivity for WWE programming on cable.

Belloni's Twitter comment:

WWE has stated they would announce their new TV deal between May and September 2018.

Duffman · May 16, 2018

Crazy that NBC is giving Raw so much money they can't afford to keep both.

futballiscool · May 16, 2018

I wonder if they end the Roster Split so Smackdown has as much star power as possible on its brand to get the highest bid

Mistaken4193 · May 16, 2018

Im guessing Fox would buy Smackdowns rights and put it on FS1.

Racer8825 · May 19, 2018

Are any of us supposed to care about Smackdown not being on USA network anymore?

futballiscool · May 20, 2018

http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2018/0520/641060/speculation-on-smackdown-moving-to-three-hours/

Duffman · May 21, 2018

ESPN's Darren Rovell is reporting that WWE's Smackdown Live will be moving to Fox in October of 2019 when its current deal with the USA Network ends.

Rovell reported that after USA gave up its right of first refusal, Fox made a "massive" offer for the program.

WWE's stock has spiked about $2 a share since the news broke. WWE is set to drastically increase their revenues with the new TV deals.

Ewa PGH Fan · May 21, 2018

Duffman said:
ESPN's Darren Rovell is reporting that WWE's Smackdown Live will be moving to Fox in October of 2019 when its current deal with the USA Network ends.

Rovell reported that after USA gave up its right of first refusal, Fox made a "massive" offer for the program.

WWE's stock has spiked about $2 a share since the news broke. WWE is set to drastically increase their revenues with the new TV deals.

We have to see which channel Fox puts Smackdown on, FS1 has been mentioned.

wildturkey · May 21, 2018

Ewa PGH Fan said:
We have to see which channel Fox puts Smackdown on, FS1 has been mentioned.

All reports I've seen is it'll be on network Fox, which is a BIG time deal for WWE. Also, the reports indicate the show will move to Fridays. No news on if it will remain live or be taped as of yet. My gut says if you're paying that kind of cash (1 billion for 5 years) it'll remain live

Duffman · May 21, 2018

Uh..........Jesus fucking Christ. I don't think it's gonna be on FS1.

The WWE and Fox television deal for Smackdown is reportedly a five-year deal worth more than $1 billion. HollywoodReporter.com reports that the deal is worth $205 million per year.

WWE Smackdown is expected to move to Friday nights once the show begins airing on Fox in October 2019, according to TheWrap.com. It was reported earlier today by ESPN that WWE and Fox have agreed to a deal in principle to bring the Smackdown series to the broadcast network.

Ewa PGH Fan · May 21, 2018

wildturkey said:
All reports I've seen is it'll be on network Fox, which is a BIG time deal for WWE. Also, the reports indicate the show will move to Fridays. No news on if it will remain live or be taped as of yet. My gut says if you're paying that kind of cash (1 billion for 5 years) it'll remain live

Wow! throw in the Saudi and Raw deals and WWE is or will soon be rolling in cash!

I hate to point this out but that's a perfect time for Vince and family to sell WWE if they want top dollar.

Judge Fudge · May 21, 2018

Apparently it will be Friday Night Smackdown on the Fox network not FS1

Ewa PGH Fan · May 21, 2018

Judge Fudge said:
Apparently it will be Friday Night Smackdown on the Fox network not FS1

Good! I get FS1 but never watch it.

futballiscool · May 21, 2018

wildturkey said:
All reports I've seen is it'll be on network Fox, which is a BIG time deal for WWE. Also, the reports indicate the show will move to Fridays. No news on if it will remain live or be taped as of yet. My gut says if you're paying that kind of cash (1 billion for 5 years) it'll remain live

Complete baseless speculation on my part but I can see them getting rid of the brand split, running both TV shows live, and running less house shows as they focus more on TV

SDGuy73 · May 21, 2018

5/21: WWE Smackdown will move from USA to Fox this fall. It will air on Friday nights.

Judge Fudge · May 21, 2018

SDGuy73 said:
5/21: WWE Smackdown will move from USA to Fox this fall. It will air on Friday nights.

Your misinformed good sir.

The deal starts in October 2019 from what i have read

Duffman · May 21, 2018

futballiscool said:
Complete baseless speculation on my part but I can see them getting rid of the brand split, running both TV shows live, and running less house shows as they focus more on TV

The only issue is I doubt FOX would care but I can't see USA letting WWE promote a FOX show on their network since they are owned by NBC. Back in the day I doubt USA/Spike TV cared about Raw promoting SD on UPN but times have changed. In fact I remember when SD moved to the CW I never got USA and we didn't see much of the Raw guys appearing on SD other than a few times before Survivor Series.

I think the brand split will be even more enforced and the only time the other brand is mentioned is when they have a PPV coming up and just run down the card.

jeffro151 · May 21, 2018

Duffman said:
The only issue is I doubt FOX would care but I can't see USA letting WWE promote a FOX show on their network since they are owned by NBC. Back in the day I doubt USA/Spike TV cared about Raw promoting SD on UPN but times have changed. In fact I remember when SD moved to the CW I never got USA and we didn't see much of the Raw guys appearing on SD other than a few times before Survivor Series.

I think the brand split will be even more enforced and the only time the other brand is mentioned is when they have a PPV coming up and just run down the card.

NFL is making their networks advertise what channel other games are on now, I'd imagine WWE followed a similar structure.

SDGuy73 · May 21, 2018

Judge Fudge said:
Your misinformed good sir.

The deal starts in October 2019 from what i have read

Correct. My bad.

The network switch is set to occur in October 2019. WWE’s current contract with NBC Universal to air Raw and SmackDown on USA expires on Sept. 30, 2019.

Ewa PGH Fan · May 21, 2018

Duffman said:
The only issue is I doubt FOX would care but I can't see USA letting WWE promote a FOX show on their network since they are owned by NBC. Back in the day I doubt USA/Spike TV cared about Raw promoting SD on UPN but times have changed. In fact I remember when SD moved to the CW I never got USA and we didn't see much of the Raw guys appearing on SD other than a few times before Survivor Series.

I think the brand split will be even more enforced and the only time the other brand is mentioned is when they have a PPV coming up and just run down the card.

Which will be all the time now with co-branded PPVs every month.

Report : Raw Staying With NBC Universal, Smackdown will not.

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