WWE ‘SmackDown’ Leaving Fox for USA Next Year, as ‘Raw’ Hits the Market
www.hollywoodreporter.com
In addition, the WWE will produce four primetime specials for the NBC broadcast network.

The article also mentions that Raw is still on the market (so USA might get Smackdown but lose Raw) and that there will be four annual specials on NBC

  • cupcakezealot
    4•1 year ago

    This bit seems weird:

    While the new deal will bring WWE to NBC primetime and SmackDown to USA on Friday nights, it will also mean the end of Raw and NXT on USA.

    Why would USA bring Smackdown over but get rid of Raw and NXT? Is it just cheaper and less time consuming so they can air other things?

    • JelloBrains
      2•1 year ago

      One of the news reports said RAW is being persued by several networks and streaming companies. If I had to guess, and that’s what I’m doing, I’d say SmackDown was all they could afford on top of being the home of WWE Network in the US.

    • I'm A Different BirdOPEnglish
      0•1 year ago

      I would guess it means that USA passed on Raw and NXT. They would likely have first refusal on them, after all, since they already air those shows. Perhaps TKO wanted more money for that package than they wanted for Smackdown?

      Either way, I would guess that the sheer inertia of having the same show in the same time slot would be a big point in favor of keeping Raw rather than dumping it for Smackdown. But then, I’m not a network exec.

      • cupcakezealot
        2•1 year ago

        It’s a big yikes if that’s the case. NBC overpaid for sure, especially if they’re moving it off of broadcast back to cable. If they’re expecting the same ratings, they’re gonna be disappointed.