Smackdown going to USA Network

[prophecypro]

So one thing I didnt clock onto this deal is if Smacdown is going to USA but the deal will include 4 specials on NBC...I guess that means its Smackdown 4 times a year on NBC

Cause they make it a point this is a seperate deal that doesnt include Raw, NXT and other stuff (Yet)


I actually think its kinda weird Universal is throwing the bag at just Smackdown and not negotiating the whole deal. Disney and Warners are bleeding money and arent gonna pay for tv rights for cable wrestling doing those numbers...Amazon maybe but idk Raw doesnt seem like that kinda show. Plus I think being with a global streamer would be a conflict of international rights even if its geoblocked

 

[THE 101]

USA network must have some wrestling mark running it they love WWE wrasslin

WWE been keeping USA afloat for years now. They need WWE.

 

[AKM-95]

I just don’t see where Raw fits if it isn’t USA, TNT, or NBC…FX and Prime seems like downgrades…

It is a viewership downgrade. But Brandon Thurston was saying that the sacrifice viewers for more guaranteed money in that type of deal.

 

[NoMorePie]

Wasn't USA network the one who wanted raw to be 3 hours? What are the odds of raw going back to 2 hours if they switch networks?

 

[PremeGuru]

Smackdown was the highest rated show yet they had the worst ad rates on Friday night. No wonder Fox let them go.

They could air re-runs of The Simpsons and bring in the same money if not more.

We'll see if someone wants that Raw/NXT package. I could see Raw getting scooped up by a major network but NXT

 

[K-Apps]

 

[StatUS]

Smackdown was the highest rated show yet they had the worst ad rates on Friday night. No wonder Fox let them go.

They could air re-runs of The Simpsons and bring in the same money if not more.

We'll see if someone wants that Raw/NXT package. I could see Raw getting scooped up by a major network but NXT

Crazy how WWE cleaned up their product and still getting hoed by advertising.

Atleast Linda got to run for Senate twice

 

[Rell84shots]

All this channel hopping was a detriment to the brand. Smackdown suffer the most from it.

Smackdown on Fox felt like the 1st time in years that it stability and growing.

Should of kept Smackdown on Fox. Get Raw on NBC. WWE Made for broadcast TV.

WWE on USA just ain't it in the cord cutters era.

RAW was averaging 2mil the first month HHH took over, so the audience is there bit they need something to make them watch. Smackdown being 2hrs with a better roster will help.

Wrestlenomics has been floating this theory for awhile now that AEW may end up on Fox/FS1 and one WWE property is Amazon or streaming bound.

I've always felt WWE was building smackdown brand by being on Network to sell it to the highest bidder.

Wrestlenomics has been desperately trying to make AEW seem like a hot commodity for a minute. FOX is going on some financial issues right now, which explains why they didn't fight to keep Smackdown. Unless Tony is willing to take the same deal they have now with WBD, i don't see AEW on FOX tv. At most he might be able to get 300mil if FOX is interested.

 

[Killah Ray]

Crazy how WWE cleaned up their product and still getting hoed by advertising.

Atleast Linda got to run for Senate twice

It’s really odd as fukk too, you’d think with the money that they pull in, advertisers would try to reach for that audience and their money…

 

[Da King]

Play fighting fans are the lowest of society and the most pathetic, and you idiots wonder why advertisers don’t want to pay top dollar to advertise on play fighting shows?



you marks talking about the inner workings of play fighting 24/7 and you clowns act shocked a company like Mercedes not interested in advertising to you

 

[Rell84shots]

Crazy how WWE cleaned up their product and still getting hoed by advertising.

Atleast Linda got to run for Senate twice

That's not a surprise though. Bischoff has said numerous times that it's hard for wrestling to get big time advertisements, and that was during the Monday night wars era.

 

[prophecypro]

Some weird conflicting news about Raw and NXT

Some are saying they arent expecting them to be renewed at USA and others saying NBCU is the frontrunner...sooo raw to NBC?

https://x.com/WrestlePurists/status/1704850507192242674?s=20

https://x.com/WrestleOps/status/1704850681318752710?s=20

 

[tremonthustler1]

1.4 billy for Smackdown is crazy. NBC keeping Raw and putting it on broadcast tv makes too much sense though but I guess be on the lookout for Amazon though…

In theory it would, but The Voice is a two night show on NBC and that show does really well for them. That and RAW's consistency hurts networks. They enjoy flexibility to be able to pull the show and put on something else if need be. If NBC had RAW, inevitably they'd have to put them on USA Network some nights anyway.

RAW is gonna have to go to a streamer like Prime.


Also, from a standpoint of the league still hoping to acquire NBA games, I'm a little surprised they got Smackdown for Friday nights on USA since that's where the games would go, and you already know Wednesday /Thursday is a non starter for NBC.

 

[Reality Check]

Not surprised, Because I always felt that Comcast would want all WWE programming under one umbrella. I was hoping they would go to NBC on Fridays, since that would keep a foothold on network TV which is still important. It'll be interesting to see where RAW ends up, I think it'll stay on USA or go to FX or WBD as a surprise candidate. If that happens then Tony better hope FOX is interested for a cheaper price, or that there's another network interested.

I'd be surprised if they landed on a WBD station. Reason being I think (just my opinion, not fact), that they might have a small ownership stake in AEW and I don't see them double dipping with pro wrestling programming.

So one thing I didnt clock onto this deal is if Smacdown is going to USA but the deal will include 4 specials on NBC...I guess that means its Smackdown 4 times a year on NBC

Probably the return of Saturday Night's Main Event.

NXt on Prime wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to them…would definitely draw more visibility to the brand..

Funny thing about this is I created a thread nearly a decade ago suggesting TNA go onto a streaming app and got laughed at

TNA on Netflix?

Given that TNA's deal is in limbo, I was thinking about them possibly going to Netflix. Since they don't have any original sports content of any kind, does it make sense for TNA to possibly go into business with them? They could probably have more leeway with content and not have to worry about...

www.thecoli.com

Funny how things can change

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Ngl id like to see raw on network tv for once.