Fox to cancel SDL if ratings continue to dwindle

[RammerJammer]

WWE has a great deal with Fox Sports that is set to kick off in October. However, their dwindling ratings might be a huge concern and could cause them to lose their $1 billion deal.

Bryan Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Livethat if WWE doesn’t pull their ratings up for SmackDown Live then Fox is very likely to cancel them. In fact, he was very sure of that and based on the history of the business and television trends because it has happened before. WWE doesn’t need it to happen again.


Alvarez continued noting that someone sent him a list of Fox shows with the same ratings as SmackDown Live and they were all canceled. WWE needs to really step up the blue brand’s game and do something quick before things get out of hand. Because nothing is a sure thing on network television.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

Not normally a WWE defender but FOX is in more households than USA so there's no telling what ratings they'll get on day one. With that said, I don't see them doing great but Friday is a death slot day for the other 4 networks so they'd have to get some terrible ratings to get cancelled.

 

[MenacingMonk]

Wait, they’re gonna cancel them before they even air on Fox? Not even gonna give them a shot.

Cokeboy done fukked up his own pockets because he wanted to sabotage his own show.

 

[LastManStanding]

this is just pure speculation and a slow "news" day for Alvarez

with that said, maybe if Vince didn't treat SmackDown (which has consistently been the better show since it went live) like a b*stard step child to Raw, then the ratings would be better right now. either way like mentioned above Fox is in more households so the ratings will increase regardless, but they could be better if Vince put as much effort into Smackdown as he does for Raw.

 

[The Great One]

I was just gonna say. Don't make these threads like this actually news. No one has said this.

 

[True Blue Moon]

FOX def will cancel them if need be, but based on that post this isn't a news story. It's basically someone with knowledge of the business saying "I'm familiar with FOX, and based on other low-rated shows that they canceled, Smackdown could get canceled too".

When I read the topic I thought there were going to be some sources within the network saying that WWE is already in hot water. Could end up happening, but the article is just a few paragraphs of future speculation.

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

"I was always Pi-Raw, pal! I've destroyed that half Samoan's blue show once and for all, God damn it!"

 

[Straw Hat Luffy]

But they said everyone would return around Rumble season when there would be no football

 

[Toe Jay Simpson]

Fox is part of nWg’s spinoff group: Can’t Watch Gang

 

[hayesc0]

Sounds like complete bullshyt.

 

[prophecypro]

I think Fox will see the full 5 years and decide not to renew them if the ratings are the same.
They've kept shows on air with low ratings for a long time before cancelling them and they gonna lose a lot of stuff with the Disney/Fox merger and need content desperatley

As far as if the numbers will go up on Friday on Fox, consider they have shows that pull the same numbers as SD on USA it might be around the same but they'll try at least in the first year to push it.

 

[DaylitoJames]

Vince to Fox Executives: "Cancel me if you want.... BUT YOU AIN'T GETTING YOUR BILLION DOLLARS BACK!

"

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

Fox is part of nWg’s spinoff group: Can’t Watch Gang

are there any blind tsc posters? anybody braillin' it?

 

[MenacingMonk]

are there any blind tsc posters? anybody braillin' it?

 

[dh86]

That was written in a very bullshyt way to make it appear that there’s a chance that Smackdown won’t debut on FOX in the Fall. Smackdown has to reach the Friday night average or it MAY be sent to FS1 where it’ll be far above that average, but Smackdown will be presented as a part of Fox Sports. NASCAR ratings have plummeted since the exit of extremely popular drivers yet their tv deals are growing. It’s not always about strictly ratings, it’s about having a product that you’re proud to have on your channel and can foster synergy with the rest of your properties.