WWE TV Shows To Stay On Comcast Owned Networks

[The Ultimate Nullifier]

A article in Daily Variety by Marc Graser, who WWE often goes to to provide "exclusive" announcements first, said that WWE would stay with NBC Universal, with Raw on USA and Smackdown on Syfy.

No financial deals were announced past saying Wall Street analysts believed WWE was able to double its previous rights fees in the new contract. They said it is not clear how long the new deal is for.

It was believed yesterday that the WWE would make an announcement as early as late today that would be detailed regarding the contract, the rights fees, and perhaps other aspects of its changing business.

The Variety story said the new contract had not been signed, but should be completed shortly.

One of the key points is digital rights, such as how long WWE would have to wait before it could air new episodes of Raw and Smackdown on the network.

Another question not answered is if Smackdown would remain on Friday night, or be moved to Tuesday. Smackdown, Syfy's highest rated show, would be expected to do considerably better ratings on Tuesdays.

NBCU is doing its upfronts this afternoon at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. Because most of the WWE's top performers are in Europe, there is not a big WWE presence, but the Bella Twins are appearing.

Within the industry, from the start, the belief was that WWE would stay with NBCU, since NBCU had the rights to match any outside offer for the show.

[The Ultimate Nullifier]

NBCUNIVERSAL CABLE ENTERTAINMENT REACHES MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH WWE® FOR MONDAY NIGHT RAW® ON USA NETWORK AND SMACKDOWN® ON SYFY



NEW YORK AND STAMFORD– May 15, 2014 – NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced a multi-year strategic partnership for WWE’s flagship programming and ratings juggernauts MONDAY NIGHT RAW® for a three-hour block on USA Network and the top-rated FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN® on Syfy. The two programs are the longest-running weekly episodic entertainment programs on cable TV with a combined reach of 10.8M viewers each week. The announcement was made today by Paul “Triple H®” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President Talent, Live Events & Creative, from the stage at the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment upfront presentation at the Javitz Center in New York.

“USA Network President Chris McCumber, Syfy President Dave Howe and I are incredibly pleased to renew this strategic partnership with WWE,” said NBCUniversal Cable Chairman Bonnie Hammer. “In today’s TV landscape, live event programming is an extraordinarily valuable asset, and WWE remains the only entertainment franchise that consistently delivers this on a 52-week a year basis. We look forward to bringing WWE’s action-packed and unique brand of drama to the wide audiences across our cable networks for many years to come.”

“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with NBCUniversal given their premiere position in the marketplace and vast promotional platforms,” said WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. “We are excited about our future as we further the reach and popularity of our live, family-friendly entertainment programming 52 weeks a year.”



WWE weekly programming averages more viewers than the NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL and UFC. Both MONDAY NIGHT RAW and FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN feature a star-studded cast of WWE Superstars and Divas, and deliver a shot of adrenaline to viewers with over-the-top action, feats of athleticism and high octane drama.

MONDAY NIGHT RAW on USA is the most-watched, regularly scheduled, year-round program on cable, airing a live three-hour block every Monday night, 52 weeks a year. RAW has been a cable mainstay for more than 20 years and is consistently a top ten show on television. The three-hour block on USA averages 2.2M P18-49, 2.3M P25-54 and 5M total viewers P2+. The 2-hour FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN on Syfy averages 1.2M P18-49, 1.3M P25-54 and 3.2M total viewers P2+. The two programs have reached 37.5M people 2014 to-date.

In addition, E! -- in partnership with WWE and Bunim-Murray Productions -- will continue to broadcast the reality series TOTAL DIVAS, an unprecedented look inside the professional and personal lives of the WWE's leading ladies.