Smackdown Live is moving to FOX Sports that’s apparently bringing a huge change in the WWE programming in the future. The new host network will start broadcasting the show from October 4th on Friday Nights. The program could become more sports-oriented with none other than Roman Reigns as the front figure of the blue brand.
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Below is a news graphic that FOX displayed at the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour on Wednesday. The image features Roman Reigns in the center whereas football and baseball players are in the background. This report from wrestlingINC.com hints how prominent the WWE shows are going to be on the new platform of the FOX Sports with Roman Reigns playing a key role.
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The WWE is coming to Fox in October and it’s getting front and center billing at TCA. pic.twitter.com/XCIQ91vKDs
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 7, 2019
FOX Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier discussed WWE at the mentioned event. He noted that their network is will deliver WWE programming for five upcoming years regardless of the TV ratings. Collier also mentioned WWE on FOX is “thrilling”. So they will be “leaning into WWE” with as much as enthusiasm as they had for the NFL.
Collier stated the following in an interview with The Wrap about hosting WWE on his network for the first time,
“[We are] a company that historically really leaned into NFL at a time where I think no one thought FOX could do so, and they’ve turned out to become the leading purveyor of the NFL. And we’re leaning into WWE with just as much enthusiasm.”
Stephanie McMahon also opened up about Smackdown shifting to a much bigger network. The question was whether this was a potential game-changer for TV as the company considering they will be promoting alongside NASCAR, the MLB, and the NFL. So this has to do a lot of changes to the show’s overall look. Here’s what he actually stated,
“Strictly from a company standpoint, it more than tripled the value of our content rights. I couldn’t be prouder of that. And we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of the Fox family.”
Stephanie added that they are an entertainment franchise but they must be delivering like sports. It’s exactly the same she thinks WWE should head towards. FOX Sports is paying WWE $1 billion over five years for the rights to Smackdown Live that is a historic contract indeed.
