Future Of WWE Raw Uncertain After Major Smackdown Announcement
:raw:
WWE announced a blockbuster new TV rights deal with NBCU that will bring SmackDown back to the USA Network in 2024. What does this mean for NBCU's current WWE product, Monday Night Raw? The Wall Street Journal reports that the Smackdown deal is equal to what USA would have had to pay for Raw and NXT together, but conflicting reports indicate an uncertain, but positive future for that WWE television brand.
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that due to the new deal for Smackdown, WWE Raw and NXT will no longer be airing on the USA Network:
"While the new deal will bring WWE to NBC primetime and SmackDown to USA on Friday nights, it will also mean the end of Raw and NXT on USA."
Sports Business Journal is reporting that NBCU is still considered one of the frontrunners to renew it's deal for WWE Raw, but there is strong interest from other major media players such as Disney and Amazon. To emphasize the level of uncertainty, it was noted that all options are on the table for Raw's future home, including moving to a different night.
"NBCU is considered a front-runner to renew its “Raw” deal. After all, “Raw” has anchored Monday nights on USA for the better part of 20 years; USA also carries “WWE NXT;” NBC carries WWE Network on Peacock; and it just cut this “SmackDown” deal.
But even as the market for sports rights has tightened due to the cord cutting trends, other companies have engaged in talks, including Disney and Amazon. Sources say there is potential for “Raw” to move off of Monday nights as part of a new deal, though nothing has been decided yet."
Monday Night Raw premiered on the USA Network in January of 1993 and stayed on the network until 2000. Raw had a brief stint on TNN and Spike TV before moving back to the USA Network in 2005 and the show has remained there ever since.
