Raw staying. ..Smackdown going?

[Deezy]

Financially the WWE has had a banner week. Yesterday news broke that the pro wrestling company was zeroing in on a TV deal that would pay them upwards of $400 million a year for the right to broadcast Monday night Raw.
Today (May 17) analysts are projecting what WWE’s potential new TV deal means for SmackDown and who may be in the race to land the rights for the Tuesday night series.

A new report from Variety’s Kristopher Tapley had some interesting tidbits about the WWE’s big day on the stock market and at negotiating table for their new TV deal. The story focused on how the SmackDownbrand is now becoming an huge asset for the WWE in the latest round of media rights talks.

“We think ‘SmackDown’ is due for a big raise as well, and likely still viewed as a bargain for several players reportedly interested,” said Eric Katz, senior analyst for Wells Fargo.

Frontrunning contenders for “SmackDown” rights include Fox, Facebook and Amazon. With the recent news that Fox will be sharing Ultimate Fighting Championship rights with ESPN, a few holes could open up in its scheduling that would present a great fit for WWE’s programming.”

Tapley continued

“One option open to “SmackDown” is moving from a two- to three-hour format akin to “Raw.” That would obviously inflate the show’s advertising potential, which might even be an enticing lure for suitors. The smaller two-hour bite is more appealing to fans, but a deeper breath would allow the brand to broaden its storytelling spotlight to include some of its underutilized talents.”

There is a scenario where the WWE runs a near five hour pay-per-view on Sunday night, followed by a three hour Raw on Monday and its all piggybacked by a three hour SmackDown on Tuesday night.

3 hour Smackdown

 

[Crippler]

Over my dead body.

 

[Cwalker]

I barely watch live as is. Y’all better get the fuck outta here with this extra hour shit

 

[Dale]

I barely watch live as is. Y’all better get the fuck outta here with this extra hour shit

Right on brother. SmackDown is stacked right now but I have no desire for another 3 hour show.

 

[Chris]

I think so many people have moved away from watching live or even watching entire shows anyway with DVR and just the internet so that might be helpful as they can get basically every niche audience watching some of the show for at least one person, but I can't see it helping live ratings a whole lot if they still care about them.

 

[Crippler]

I'm slowly moving to the FUCK watching this shit live movement, do you know how amazing it was not watching RAW and SD this week and being able to watch sports playoffs or 1998 Reviews. Then catching up on Wednesday, in about an hour and a half.

 

[Dale]

I'm slowly moving to the FUCK watching this shit live moment, do you know how amazing it was nothing RAW and SD this week and being able to watch sports playoffs or 1998 Reviews. Then catching up on Wednesday, in about an hour and a half.

I'm honestly surprised it took you this long especially since you're in England too. Having to stay up from 1am till 4, sitting through ad-break after ad-break and so many pointless matches it boggles my mind how people can watch it live.

 

[Deezy]

I'm on west coast time....shit starts at five for me. Fab you're gonna miss shitting on the product with me.

 

[Keith]

Think Smackdown needs a bit more profile so a deal with one of those suggested could help that. But yeah the last thing we need right now is another added hour of wrestling on TV per week.

 

[Deezy]

WWE has agreed in principle to make Fox the new home of "SmackDown Live," after the network came to WWE with what sources described as a "massive" offer.

Specific terms, beyond the fact that the deal will begin in October 2019, are unknown at this time.

A representative for WWE declined to comment.

A Fox As first reported by the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, NBC Universal declined its right of first refusal to hit the numbers that WWE proposed on "SmackDown." NBC instead focused its efforts on "Monday Night Raw."

With live TV viewed as a prized commodity in the era of DVR and on-demand and "SmackDown Live" straddling the worlds of scripted and sports TV, Fox greatly valued the opportunity to pursue one of WWE's signature programs.

"SmackDown Live," which airs on Tuesdays, has averaged 2.59 million viewers per week in 2018, while "Raw" has averaged about 3 million viewers.

One of WWE's two weekly live broadcast shows, "SmackDown Live" has aired on NBC Universal networks since October 2010, first calling the SyFy network its home from 2010 to 2015 before debuting on the USA Network in January 2016. Before that, "SmackDown" aired on broadcast TV, starting in 1999 on UPN, followed by runs on the CW and My Network TV.

"Monday Night Raw" called USA Network home from 1993 to 2000 and returned there in October 2005 -- a run that carries through present day.

Since Thursday morning, when the Hollywood Reporter broke news of the opening of negotiations, WWE's stock, through 11:30 a.m. ET Monday, was up 19.1 percent.

http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/23562745/fox-reaches-agreement-air-wwe-smackdown-live

 

[Deezy]

McMahon wins again

 

[Apoho Creed]

Question: Fox lately has been cancelling Shows haven't they lately on their Channel? I mean they was even word my Show Gotham was going to be cancelled, but it doesn't seem to be happening. I do remember other Shows being cancelled like Lucifer, but somehow they are all freed up for Smackdown Live. This is history is this the first time Fox will ever be showing a Wrestling product on their Channel?

 

[Cwalker]

McMahon wins again

Outside of wrestling he really doesn’t do anything that well, but god damn he knows how to make money off wrestling

 

[Deezy]

Question: Fox lately has been cancelling Shows haven't they lately on their Channel? I mean they was even word my Show Gotham was going to be cancelled, but it doesn't seem to be happening. I do remember other Shows being cancelled like Lucifer, but somehow they are all freed up for Smackdown Live. This is history is this the first time Fox will ever be showing a Wrestling product on their Channel?

Fox was looking to focus on sports and news after the Disney deal kicks in.

I'm just glad I'm getting a final season of Gotham.

 

[Drew]

Fox has to find programming since its parent company(21st Century) is getting bought by Disney most likely. That’s why they shelled out for Thursday night Football and now Smackdown.

The article listed above says several times about the “need for live programming” but if they’re moving it back to Friday it can’t be live right? I mean the way it worked before was live shows on Mon and Tues, and that Tuesday show was SD Live. Unless they are truly going to keep the brand split alive(which is my hope) will they go ahead and pull the trigger on completely separate rosters? Meaning you won’t see guys popping up on Raw or SD from the other show...and if they do it’ll be a bigger deal?

Considering I already order SD to Raw as it is, I’m excited for this.

Also, as y’all know I don’t watch live. I record and watch the episode after the fact, normally in about 30 min-hour at most and feel like I don’t miss anything.