World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and NBCUniversal have announced a new multi-year deal, which will see SmackDown Live return to the USA Network starting from October 2019.
The agreement is estimated to be worth more than $1.4 billion over five years, over double the previous agreement for the same timespan. This will be the third consecutive deal between the two companies.
The move is a part of WWE’s overall strategy to create a stronger connection with their fanbase and expand upon their global television presence. WWE’s SmackDown Live is currently broadcast in over 170 countries worldwide, and is the second-longest running weekly episodic show in US television history.
The show regularly features some of the biggest names in the sport, including John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, and more. According to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, “this important partnership with NBCUniversal provides a great environment for WWE across all platforms.”
For NBCUniversal, this will provide a much needed boost to their family of channels, and will give them the opportunity to feature one of the world’s biggest entertainment shows as it nears its 20th anniversary.
The partnership between WWE and NBCUniversal should provide wrestling fans with plenty of exciting content and viewing opportunities. It’s now up to WWE to deliver the action-packed and drama-filled show that SmackDown Live has become known for. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the developments over the next few years to see how the show stacks up.
