WWE Smackdown will return to the USA Network in 2024 as part of a new television rights deal with NBCUniversal.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, CEO of Endeavor Group, Ari Emanuel discussed the current WWE television media rights, several networks being interested in RAW, WWE’s current standing with Saudi Arabia, and more.
It is to be noted that RAW and NXT were not included in the WWE-NBCU deal and the status of these shows is yet to be confirmed.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On the WWE TV rights: “We got a 40% increase for SmackDown. We have Raw, which is the number one package available. There are three big rights coming available to market; WWE Raw, UFC, NBA. We are involved in two of them. There are six buyers. Plus, I would say WWE Network, which is up in 2026. You cannot undervalue WWE and UFC for the following reasons: One, we do not have a season. One of the biggest issues that will happen with s-mods and network is churn. We’re 52 weeks a year, and we’re flexible. If you want us Thursday night, if you want us Tuesday night, I don’t have any of those schedule issues. That churn issue, because we’re the full year, is so much different from any other sport because then people churn out. That’s one of the issues with sports. Not in a bad way. (You sign up for the NFL), and then the package is over, and then you leave. Our fans are loyal, they stick around, and they move.”
On if the NBA rights deal needs to be settled first: “No. I would say there is plenty of interest with Raw right now. I know people are like, ‘NBC is out of the mix,’ and that’s why [the stock] went down. I think there are three things that happened. One, the reason the stock is down is they thought Raw is the best package. I thought a 40% increase, which was in line with expectations, was good. Two, the PFL situation, and three, probably Vince [Vince McMahon], in our deal, wanted to be able to put, at any point in time, his stock. He’s 78-years-old and been at this for decades and decades. Those three back-to-back issues….”
On WWE working with Saudi Arabia: “I would say, I didn’t want them (Saudi Arabia) — at the time, we weren’t public in our investors stack, okay? I said it on many podcasts about my feelings about the situation. I didn’t say we would never be doing business in Saudi. I just didn’t want them in the financial stack of our investors. We distribute their now-soccer league through IMG. Because of WWE, we’re in business with them for at least five years. Two events a year, great. They just bought an event from us for the UFC. Great price, we’re doing the event. It will be an unbelievable card. So, I just, at the time, didn’t feel comfortable for many reasons which has been stated. But we’re in business with them now. So, that simple.”
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WWE Smackdown to Return to USA Network in 2024
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor Group, discussed the current WWE television media rights, the company’s standing with Saudi Arabia, and more. One of the major announcements from the interview was that WWE Smackdown will be returning to the USA Network in 2024 as part of a new television rights deal with NBCUniversal.
While the details of the deal were not disclosed, Emanuel mentioned that there was a 40% increase in the rights for Smackdown. He also highlighted the significance of WWE’s programming, stating that it is one of the few sports entertainment options that are available year-round. This constant availability makes WWE attractive to networks as it helps to mitigate the issue of viewer churn that is often seen in other sports.
Regarding the status of other WWE shows, such as RAW and NXT, Emanuel mentioned that they were not included in the WWE-NBCU deal and their future is yet to be confirmed. However, he did mention that there is plenty of interest in RAW from various networks.
The interview also touched upon WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. Emanuel stated that initially, he didn’t want Saudi Arabia to be part of their investors’ stack due to various reasons. However, WWE is now doing business with Saudi Arabia, hosting two events per year and even selling an event to them for the UFC. Emanuel emphasized that they are in business with Saudi Arabia for at least five years.
The return of Smackdown to the USA Network is significant for WWE fans as it brings one of their flagship shows back to a familiar platform. The move also highlights the continued popularity and demand for WWE programming in the television market.
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