Jim Ross Claims WWE’s Move Away from FOX Isn’t a Downgrade

WWE fans were shocked to discover that FOX would be losing SmackDown in 2024. The blue brand will move to the USA Network as part of a lucrative deal this week and while many feel it’s a massive downgrade, Jim Ross has a different opinion.

WWE’s new deal with NBC Universal, the company that owns the USA Network, shows that their relationship remains strong and positive. Unlike the previous deal with FOX, which was worth $200 million a year (about $3.8 million per episode), fans feel that this new agreement is even better.

Under the new deal, WWE will earn about $1.4 billion over four years. This works out to around $280 million each year or $5.4 million per episode. This big contract shows how valuable and popular WWE shows are on the USA Network.

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross was asked whether SmackDown losing FOX is a loss to WWE and wrestling in general. Jim Ross believes that SmackDown’s move from FOX to the USA Network is not a significant downgrade. He explains that while broadcast television has lost some of its former prestige due to the rise of streaming services, USA Network, which has a long history with WWE, still holds substantial value.

Ross notes that the landscape of TV viewership has become more fragmented, making it more challenging to attract and retain audiences. Despite this, he does not see the transition as a negative shift.

“It’s fragmented so much that it doesn’t carry the cachet that it used to, right? Not that it’s a bad thing, and I’m not downgrading their status, but the issue is that USA, since the days of the first hour-long Monday Night Raws and testing every week, etc., has changed. So I think USA has as much right to say that they’re the wrestling station as anybody else that WWE deals with. It’ll be fun to see how that evolves. And of course, we’ve got the ever-popular minute-by-minute ratings that tell you pretty much everything you need to know. Sometimes they’re fair, sometimes they’re not. But it’ll be a little bit of a challenge, I think, to get that audience to find you on the same night, same time, but on a different network. And going to USA, to me, it’s not a downgrade at all.”

When talking about potential ripple effects on the wrestling industry due to WWE’s experience with FOX, Ross emphasizes that as long as TV ratings remain competitive and look good, the impact will be manageable.

Ross acknowledges that SmackDown was performing well before the move and expresses confidence that the show will continue to thrive on the USA Network. With USA Network also hosting NXT and Raw, Ross believes that there will be ample reasons for wrestling fans to stay engaged. He remains optimistic that WWE will leverage this new opportunity effectively and that the shift will be beneficial in the long run.

“I think as long as TV ratings are competitive and look good—good on paper, good to the eye—it’ll be fine. They do a good job of their weekly television. You know, I thought SmackDown before the change was really good. I really do. So I don’t know, time will tell. It’s one of those situations where it’s not a good answer, but time will tell if they hit and if the ratings stay consistent or if they add to the audience from their established USA Network. Now USA’s got NXT, they’ve got Raw, and they’ll have SmackDown. Plenty of reasons for a wrestling fan to invest their time and TV time in the show. So it should be good. I’m pulling for them because a high tide lifts all boats, as we said before. I think these guys will take advantage of this opportunity and look at it as an opportunity to take care of their business.”

We have also reported on the reason for SmackDown leaving FOX. Regardless, SmackDown will begin its journey on the USA Network on September 13th, so we’ll have to see how the show will fare on the USA Network this time around.

What do you think of what Jim Ross had to say? Do you personally believe WWE losing FOX isn’t a downgrade Let us know in the comments section below!

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