Syfy pins 'Friday Night Smackdown', WWE series to premiere on cable network Oct. 1 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 04-13-2010, 06:02 PM

World Wrestling Entertainment's "Friday Night SmackDown" is moving to cable.
The weekly two-hour series, which currently serves as the linchpin of MyNetwork TV, will premiere on Syfy beginning Oct. 1. and fill the 8 p.m. timeslot.

"Caprica," "Stargate Universe" and "Sanctuary" will now shift from Friday to Tuesday, as a result.

"SmackDown" has been on the air for 10 years, originally bowing on UPN before moving to the CW after the UPN-WB merger. It set up its ring on MyNetwork TV in October 2008 and is, by far, the most-watched show on the net.

But WWE had been looking for a more high-profile home for "SmackDown," its second-most popular show behind "Monday Night Raw," which airs on USA Network.

"With this move, WWE is thrilled to be expanding its long-standing relationship with the NBC Universal family," WWE chairman Vince McMahon said.

Syfy is ponying up close to $30 million in an annual fee to land "SmackDown," making the shift a hugely profitable one for the Connecticut-based WWE, considering MyNetwork paid around $15 million, sources close to the situation said.

Syfy was already in business with WWE, airing the company's "NXT," a recently revamped version of "ECW." The hourlong show aired on Tuesday night, and like "ECW" was used as a vehicle to introduce new wrestlers that could migrate to WWE's more high-profile shows and pay-per-views.

"NXT" will continue airing on Syfy through October when "SmackDown" launches. WWE is currently negotiating with other networks to find "NXT" a new home.

With overall numbers up 22% in year-to-year comparisons, sources say MyNetwork decided it was more cost efficient to drop wrestling after two seasons and add an offnet show to Fridays instead of reupping with WWE's grapplers. "SmackDown" has seen 6% a ratings decline in overall viewers and 13% in 18-49.

Minus "Smackdown," which was MyNetwork's most-watched show with 3.4 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 18-49 demo, programming service has seen numbers improve for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on Mondays and "The Unit" on Wednesdays. "The Unit" will finish off its run in the next few months and a soon-to-be-announced drama will fill its place.

On Tuesday, 8-10 p.m. timeslot is filled with "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and "Deal or No Deal."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...s=1&ref=verttv

comedyfreak · 04-15-2010, 05:38 AM

Why the move? I don't get Syfy so I'll miss Smackdown.

robyrob · 04-15-2010, 01:10 PM

so are they basically saying that the WWE is no longer just fiction, but now it is SCIENCE fiction?

i won't belive it until i see an alien pop out of Vince McMahon's belly; otherwise it doesn't belong on SciFi.

TMC · 04-19-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Why the move? I don't get Syfy so I'll miss Smackdown.

1. SyFy offered much more money than what MNTV offered

2. WWE was probably getting tired of SmackDown being frequently preempted by baseball games and what not

3. MNTV has a very uncertain foreseeable future (SmackDown was really there only "ace in the hole")

MrCleveland · 04-20-2010, 07:02 PM

I smell Sell-Out!

04-13-2010, 06:02 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,500	Syfy pins 'Friday Night Smackdown', WWE series to premiere on cable network Oct. 1 World Wrestling Entertainment's "Friday Night SmackDown" is moving to cable. The weekly two-hour series, which currently serves as the linchpin of MyNetwork TV, will premiere on Syfy beginning Oct. 1. and fill the 8 p.m. timeslot. "Caprica," "Stargate Universe" and "Sanctuary" will now shift from Friday to Tuesday, as a result. "SmackDown" has been on the air for 10 years, originally bowing on UPN before moving to the CW after the UPN-WB merger. It set up its ring on MyNetwork TV in October 2008 and is, by far, the most-watched show on the net. But WWE had been looking for a more high-profile home for "SmackDown," its second-most popular show behind "Monday Night Raw," which airs on USA Network. "With this move, WWE is thrilled to be expanding its long-standing relationship with the NBC Universal family," WWE chairman Vince McMahon said. Syfy is ponying up close to $30 million in an annual fee to land "SmackDown," making the shift a hugely profitable one for the Connecticut-based WWE, considering MyNetwork paid around $15 million, sources close to the situation said. Syfy was already in business with WWE, airing the company's "NXT," a recently revamped version of "ECW." The hourlong show aired on Tuesday night, and like "ECW" was used as a vehicle to introduce new wrestlers that could migrate to WWE's more high-profile shows and pay-per-views. "NXT" will continue airing on Syfy through October when "SmackDown" launches. WWE is currently negotiating with other networks to find "NXT" a new home. With overall numbers up 22% in year-to-year comparisons, sources say MyNetwork decided it was more cost efficient to drop wrestling after two seasons and add an offnet show to Fridays instead of reupping with WWE's grapplers. "SmackDown" has seen 6% a ratings decline in overall viewers and 13% in 18-49. Minus "Smackdown," which was MyNetwork's most-watched show with 3.4 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 18-49 demo, programming service has seen numbers improve for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on Mondays and "The Unit" on Wednesdays. "The Unit" will finish off its run in the next few months and a soon-to-be-announced drama will fill its place. On Tuesday, 8-10 p.m. timeslot is filled with "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and "Deal or No Deal." http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...s=1&ref=verttv
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04-15-2010, 05:38 AM	#2
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Why the move? I don't get Syfy so I'll miss Smackdown.
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04-15-2010, 01:10 PM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,219	so are they basically saying that the WWE is no longer just fiction, but now it is SCIENCE fiction? i won't belive it until i see an alien pop out of Vince McMahon's belly; otherwise it doesn't belong on SciFi.
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04-20-2010, 07:02 PM	#5
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,236	I smell Sell-Out!
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