Steve Carrier on May 6, 2023
In a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, hosts Garrett Gonzales and Dave Meltzer chatted about the possibility of WWE switching the airing of SmackDown to a different TV network. They discussed what might happen if another network offered WWE a big deal to move the show from FOX.
USA Network is consistently among the top cable networks every week, thanks in large part to WWE programming. With TV ratings declining for most of the scripted shows, the networks are relying more on live/sports programming to keep them afloat. And in this landscape, wrestling has consistently drawn strong numbers every Friday night for FOX.
Meltzer noted on WOR that he has heard talk of NBC getting SmackDown, but it is far from a done deal.
“There’s been no official negotiations but I have absolutely heard the idea of NBC being interested as far as the idea of getting everything and putting SmackDown on the network. That does make sense.”
Meltzer acknowledged that he doesn’t know if that will actually happen but it seems like more of a possibility than a few years ago.
“Will they do it? I don’t know. They have their own Friday night stuff that’s been around for years and years, we’ll see. That wouldn’t surprise me if NBC takes everything and puts SmackDown on.”
In December, John Ourand of The Sports Business Journal predicted that WWE would have a new TV deal locked in by the end of this year and that NBCU would keep RAW and NXT while SmackDown would move to one of their NBC channels.
It remains to be seen whether WWE will leave FOX or stay put, but with NBC reportedly showing interest, it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming months.
What are your thoughts on the possibility of WWE moving SmackDown to another network, and potentially landing a deal with NBC? Leave a comment.
May 6, 2023 11:05 am
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