"WWE SmackDown" Moving to Fox from USA Network in Fall 2019
by Dade Hayes
May 21, 2018


As Fox assembles the pieces of its post-merger schedule, a big piece has fallen in place. Beginning in October 2019, the broadcast network will air World Wrestling Entertainment’s "SmackDown Live", which has been on USA Network.

Terms were not disclosed. Fox and the WWE both declined comment.

http://deadline.com/2018/05/wwe-smackdown-moving-to-fox-from-usa-in-2019-1202395345/

WWE on FOX may be a good rating-grabber...and even a Simpsons ep...since they'll be on forever!

5 takeaways from WWE’s $1 billion deal with Fox for Smackdown’s TV rights (http://thecomeback.com/wwe/5-takeaways-from-wwes-1-billion-deal-with-fox-for-smackdowns-tv-rights.html)

WWE Smackdown! is set to move to Fox (https://www.thewrap.com/wwe-smackdown-fox-broadcast-fridays-fall-2019/)
According to The Wrap, Fox Sports and WWE are closing a deal to move the USA series to Fox (http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/574116/smackdown-live-moving-fox) starting in fall 2019. The deal would mark Smackdown's return to broadcast TV. The wrestling show previously aired on UPN, The CW and MyNetworkTV. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Fox will pay more than $1 billion over five years (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-wwe-close-massive-five-year-1-billion-deal-smackdown-1113701?utm_source=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral), or about $205 million a year. That's more than three times what NBC Universal is currently paying.

I don't see any reason to be happy about this. Any of the "Big Four" commercial broadcast networks will have to sacrifice two hours of scripted programming for a weekly two-hour pro-wrestling show that will be broadcast year-round (including during the summer). Dana Walden suggested that "Big Fox", as you put it, will cut back on its entertainment programming following the 20CF/Disney merger, which means soon Fox-TV will have less hours available for scripted programming than The CW. I'm gonna hate the "New Fox" even more than the current one. It's a shame that "Raw" and "Smackdown" being on the exact same network will not last long.

Fox Slates "WWE SmackDown Live" on Fridays as USA Renews "Raw"
by Dade Hayes
June 26, 2018


Fox has slated "WWE’s SmackDown Live" on Friday nights starting in October 2019, kicking off a five-year deal between the broadcast network and the pro wrestling circuit.

Beginning October 4, 2019, Fox will air a weekly, two-hour, live event 52 weeks a year. USA Network, meanwhile, which used to air "SmackDown", said it is renewing "Monday Night Raw", a high-rated mainstay that debuted on the network in 1993. The re-up is also for five years.




Sources familiar with the talks said USA had the contractual right of first refusal for both nights of wrestling. "SmackDown" had been airing on the network only since January 2016, so it proved more appealing to focus on "Raw" as a single night.

Both franchises remain durable in the ratings, despite all of the headwinds for programming of late, with "Raw" averaging 3.56 million live-plus-seven-day total viewers and "SmackDown" 2.89 million.

https://deadline.com/2018/06/fox-slates-wwe-smackdown-live-on-fridays-as-usa-renews-raw-1202417767/

Since wrestling has become more popular than ever before WWE really has a smart idea to move WWE Smackdown Live from USA to FOX because I think when USA's contract with WWE has expired Vince McMahon really was a genius for choosing FOX as the new home of WWE Smackdown Live because when you get the general picture when FOX shows sports anytime sporting events are always a monster hit on them. I got interested in watching WWE Smackdown Live after recieving WWE Superstars celebrity dolls last year and I mainly watch it to see if either Bayley or Sasha Banks or any of the other female wrestlers will be fighting and it started my love for WWE even though I watched it with my uncle when I was a kid. I also wonder if WWE Smackdown Live is now moving to FOX next month will WWE Monday Night Raw will soon follow as well?
Bestie

I think it's a good move for them, though I am not very happy with them currently.

I’m not very pleased about Smackdown moving to back to Friday Nights early next month, It would be hard for me to watch on that night.

I was gonna see WWE Smackdown Live's FOX debut yesterday but I got sidetracked with another show. But I did hear that The Rock made his big WWE comeback in a match with Becky Lynch. I also wonder if they will show any matches with John Cena too. I also want to know how the ratings were for WWE Smackdown Live's FOX debut?
Bestie