WWE SmackDown will return to the USA Network next October as part of a five-year deal that will see the blue brand depart FOX programming.
WWE/TKO announced that the new deal will begin in October 2024 and that four primetime specials will air per year on NBC.
WWE SmackDown aired on the USA Network from 2016 to 2019 before moving to FOX.
It was stated that SmackDown will remain on Friday nights. A statement confirming the change can be seen below.
SmackDown Returns to USA Network as Part of Five-Year Agreement Between WWE and NBCUniversal
WWE to Make NBC Primetime Debut with Launch of Four Network Specials
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and NBCUniversal have agreed to a five-year domestic media rights partnership that will bring Friday Night SmackDown back to USA Network beginning October 2024. Additionally, beginning in the 2024/25 season, WWE will produce four primetime specials per year that will air on NBC, marking the first time WWE will air on the network in primetime.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230920947679/en/
SmackDown will come exclusively to NBCU as one of television’s longest-running programs, regularly rating as the No. 1 show in the 18-49 advertising demographic on Friday nights and featuring many WWE Superstars including John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Rey Mysterio.
“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”
“It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE which has helped cement USA Network’s consistent position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership” said Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment. “With Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we’ll continue to use the power of our portfolio to super-serve this passionate fanbase.”
As part of WWE and NBCUniversal’s longstanding relationship, USA Network is currently home to WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night Raw, which is the #2 cable entertainment program in 2023 in the 18-49 demo. Demonstrating the deeply engaged WWE audience on USA, WWE NXT (+27%) and WWE Monday Night Raw (+15%) are up double-digits year-over-year in the target demographic. WWE Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT will continue to air on USA Network through September 2024.
In addition, since 2021, Peacock has been the exclusive home of WWE Network in the U.S. where Peacock subscribers can stream thousands of hours of on-demand programming from WWE including original series, groundbreaking documentaries, fan-favorite shows from the WWE archives, and premium live events like WrestleMania, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, Summer Slam,and more. WWE continues to drive high engagement on the platform, with this April’s WrestleMania 39 livestream delivering a record-breaking weekend for Peacock as its highest weekend usage to-date.
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WWE SmackDown Returns to USA Network in Five-Year Deal with NBCUniversal
In a major announcement, WWE SmackDown will be returning to the USA Network next October as part of a five-year deal with NBCUniversal. This move will see the blue brand depart from FOX programming and mark its comeback to the network where it aired from 2016 to 2019.
The new deal, set to begin in October 2024, will also include four primetime specials per year that will air on NBC. This will be the first time that WWE will air on the network in primetime, marking a significant milestone for the company.
SmackDown has been one of television’s longest-running programs and has consistently ranked as the number one show in the 18-49 advertising demographic on Friday nights. The show features many popular WWE Superstars, including John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Rey Mysterio.
WWE President Nick Khan expressed his excitement about extending the longstanding partnership with NBCUniversal and bringing SmackDown back to USA Network. He also mentioned the anticipation of debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.
Frances Berwick, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, shared her enthusiasm about continuing the partnership with WWE, which has helped solidify USA Network’s position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership. She emphasized the power of their portfolio in serving the passionate WWE fanbase through Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock.
USA Network is currently home to WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night Raw, which is the number two cable entertainment program in the 18-49 demographic in 2023. Both shows will continue to air on USA Network through September 2024.
Since 2021, Peacock has been the exclusive home of WWE Network in the U.S., offering subscribers access to thousands of hours of on-demand programming from WWE, including original series, documentaries, fan-favorite shows from the WWE archives, and premium live events like WrestleMania, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and Summer Slam.
The partnership between WWE and NBCUniversal has been longstanding, and this new deal further strengthens their relationship. With the return of SmackDown to USA Network and the addition of primetime specials on NBC, fans can expect more exciting WWE content in the coming years.
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