WWE Smackdown leaves the CW

[MegaJ]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980484.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
-Variety Article.

Well, the CW loses the stigma of having wrestling on their network and the lost ad revenue of the program. But absolutely nothing the CW has can match Smackdown's ratings on Friday nights, especially since their scripted programming hasn't been performing well.

What other options does the WWE have? NBC is unlikely, but they do have American Gladiators and I think if they move that and put Smackdown on Saturday nights, they could do worse. FOX/My Network TV is our best bet for a network home, but they could also look for a cable home for the show, like Sci-Fi (and if that's the case, bye bye ECW it's been fun).

Thoughts?

[Matt Hazuda]

With Smackdown! leaving the CW, it would be the perfect time to end the brand separation I think. The gimmick has gotten old and stale and is basically useless with all the talent migrating between the three shows so often anyways.

It would give them a chance to unify the tag belts (maybe the US and IC belts as well), have an interbrand defense of the women's title and revive the cruiserweight belt if they played their cards right. The World and WWE titles could stay, but even then it might be time to finally reunite them under the World title heading again (so we can dump the awful spinner belt finally).

[Vyse]

Well, the CW loses the stigma of having wrestling on their network and the lost ad revenue of the program. But absolutely nothing the CW has can match Smackdown's ratings on Friday nights, especially since their scripted programming hasn't been performing well.

What other options does the WWE have? NBC is unlikely, but they do have American Gladiators and I think if they move that and put Smackdown on Saturday nights, they could do worse. FOX/My Network TV is our best bet for a network home, but they could also look for a cable home for the show, like Sci-Fi (and if that's the case, bye bye ECW it's been fun).

Thoughts?
Even though I don't watch SD due to work, the CW has shot themselves in the foot. Good luck with those Top Model repeats, even though they air on MTV and VH1 adnauseum. (sp?)
As for who gets it, I don't see Sci-Fi getting it. At all. And those that do see it are as dillusional (sp?) as the CW for getting rid of it. Sci-Fi's Friday nights are stable ratings earners, strike or not. Getting rid of your signature night for the WWE, even if they make it live on not-as-big-as-Friday areas like Tuesday or back on Thurday pre-taped is like the Cartoon Network airing Zathura. (which it is :confused::() Since the WWE probably wants to keep a presence on network TV, expect networks with go-nowhere Fridays to get it. FOX may, but do only 720p for HD feeds (WWE does 1080i), but I think MyNetwork does HD in 1080i and has the demo it wants (IFL) but is more limited than the CW; in Savannah, we have 2 CW channels and our MyNetwork station is a sub-channel for our NBC station. Speaking of, expect the WWE to air across the NBC Universal family as SD goes to NBC this fall.


With Smackdown! leaving the CW, it would be the perfect time to end the brand separation I think. The gimmick has gotten old and stale and is basically useless with all the talent migrating between the three shows so often anyways.

It would give them a chance to unify the tag belts (maybe the US and IC belts as well), have an interbrand defense of the women's title and revive the cruiserweight belt if they played their cards right. The World and WWE titles could stay, but even then it might be time to finally reunite them under the World title heading again (so we can dump the awful spinner belt finally).

Like I said earlier, it will be a move and not a unification. Sure, they all use the same set, but if the WWE unifies the brands, talent development may take a big hit.

[EinBebop]

While I'd bet money against it happening, it would be interesting to see what would happen to the brands if Friday Night Smackdown moved to NBC? That would be where you'd want to feature your top stars, like Cena and Helmsley. But on the other hand, I think there's a certain pride that goes along with Raw, that Vince and co. would not let it become the #2 show. Thus ends the brand extension.

[MegaJ]

The brand extension wouldn't end, it makes the WWE too much money. I wouldn't want to see it end either, I mean the shows themselves now don't feature their entire rosters, think about ending the brand split would do if the top players got attention all the time.


Even though I don't watch SD due to work, the CW has shot themselves in the foot. Good luck with those Top Model repeats, even though they air on MTV and VH1 adnauseum. (sp?)

Smackdown doesn't make that much money due to it not attracting a lot of advertisers, but you're right anyway. Friday was one of the CW's biggest nights.


Speaking of, expect the WWE to air across the NBC Universal family as SD goes to NBC this fall.

Yeah, if it does end up on NBC, it'll probably air Saturdays (the rest of the week is too stacked) with AG. I think that combo will work out well.

[Matt Hazuda]

Speaking of, expect the WWE to air across the NBC Universal family as SD goes to NBC this fall.Or they end up on Bravo, where they'll have to add a gay fashion designer wrestler and makeover segments :p

[bigddan11]

It says they will offically part at the end of the 2007-08 seson, which means SmackDown! will be on the CW through August. This will lose the CW their most watched night. It will force them to come up with two hours of shows as well. USA and Sci fi don't seem likely to aquire SmackDown! with Monk and Psych on USA Friday and Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Atlantis, Dr. Strange, and Flash Gordon rotating that sopt on Sci Fi.

NBC could be a possibility, but if they do get it, Saturday is the most likely night. I hope MyNetwork doesn't get it. It doesn't have that wide spread national broadcast group like the CW does. I wouldn't mind it being on Bravo, but people ridiculed me when I suggested it 2 years ago.

[Br26]

SD being on Bravo is a possibility, too.

I don't think the brand split should end, mostly because if it does, a whole lot of talent is going to get cut and be sent on their way. Right now things are fine as they are.

It's almost certian SD will find a home, I think most likely within the NBC networks. USA could always move Monk and Psych to a different time, though that would probally piss off the fans of the respective shows.

[SirLemming]

Of the three current WWE networks, CW is the only one I get in HD, so if they move to USA or Sci-Fi I'm gonna be ticked off.

[dth1971]

I guess NBC's American Gladiators is chewing out CW's Friday Night Smackdown.

[Jin Kazama]

Or they end up on Bravo, where they'll have to add a gay fashion designer wrestler and makeover segments :p

Sweet! The return of Rico!

There's no way in hell Smackdown is going to NBC. Saturday Night's Main Event didn't do nearly as well as they hoped, and that was just a once-in-a-while thing. Even with the writers strike, NBC still has enough stuff they can devote weekly TV time to.

I can see it also airing on USA, but my money's on My Network TV (which is the worst name for a network ever).

[hobbyfan]

Or they end up on Bravo, where they'll have to add a gay fashion designer wrestler and makeover segments :p

Paging Rico!!!!:D :D :D

[Draft]

Good job CW, letting your top performing show leave. Considering that their highest scripted show, Smallville, only had 3.8 million viewers to WWE's 4.8 million and is also probably more expensive than WWE. Not to mention most of their shows get less than 2 million viewers (Life Is Wild got a 0.7 for a premire episode, thoguh it was against the Super Bowl, and the season finallie of Crowned got 1.5)

My guess is Sci-Fi or USA will take it (Prolly Sci-Fi). If My Network TV gets enough money to buy it, they can take it; and maybe even Fox might try and get it, since it's firday offerings in the begining of the 2007 season were beaten by WWE..

[hobbyfan]

Good job CW, letting your top performing show leave. Considering that their highest scripted show, Smallville, only had 3.8 million viewers to WWE's 4.8 million and is also probably more expensive than WWE. Not to mention most of their shows get less than 2 million viewers (Life Is Wild got a 0.7 for a premire episode, thoguh it was against the Super Bowl, and the season finallie of Crowned got 1.5)

My guess is Sci-Fi or USA will take it (Prolly Sci-Fi). If My Network TV gets enough money to buy it, they can take it; and maybe even Fox might try and get it, since it's firday offerings in the begining of the 2007 season were beaten by WWE..

For one thing, Tyra Banks says "hello" with "America's Next Top Model", which, like Smackdown, was part of the merger between WB & UPN. "Top Model" is sticking around, although earlier episodes are being played into the ground with relentless marathons on MTV & VH1 seemingly every weekend in a mad grab for ratings. Who's to say "Top Model", which isn't on every week, isn't getting the same kind of numbers, if not more, than Smackdown, thus making the decision a little easier?

Sci-Fi has an established Friday lineup, as does USA, so they're not about to tinker. Bravo, not so much. I doubt Vince wants to do business with Rupert Murdoch, if what I read was true that he hates Murdoch, so scratch Fox and MyNetwork TV. NBC could use a little help on the weekends, be it Friday or Saturday. Smackdown cures the problem of replaying eps from other shows during the week, at least for 2 hours, and a consistent presence, coupled with mass cross-promotion, might erase the disappointment of Saturday Night's Main Event since its relaunch 2 years ago.

[Jaguar]

I think this is a pretty brainless move, simply because it is pretty well known that Friday is generally the worst night to try to program anything on network TV, and I don't see what could possibly replace a show which essentially programs itself and is most likely cheaper than scripted (or rather more scripted) fare. Especially when it's the highest rated on show on the network and consistently turns out strong ratings, even beating the Big Four in the coveted 18-49 demographic on multiple occasions. But yeah, I suppose that's water under the bridge (unless Dawn Ostroff can realize what a mistake it is and get a deal together...I mean, they've got until the fall, right?)

Barring that, of course, there's the issue of where can SD! go. NBC is basically out of the question, and the other NBC Universal networks, as mentioned, are also very uncomfortable fits. USA's Monk/Psych combo gets good ratings...and we all know that putting three hours of WWE entertainment on SciFi is a huge stretch, especially on Friday which is essentially SciFi's biggest night. Bravo makes even less sense than SciFi does, and I am very sure that Vince would like to have a presence on free, network television. I had actually read a few times in the past that they had received offers from Fox, but I don't know if it's actually true or if their contract with NBCU would permit that anyway.

I guess we'll find out soon enough though. I have to say, the news did take me by surprise.

[SirLemming]

One option they might want to consider is removing ECW and putting Smackdown on Sci-Fi. Removing their 1-hour show wouldn't be such a big loss, especially considering they've only been doing the show for a year and it hasn't exactly been a major success. Or, depending on what brand they want to keep, they could just call the 2-hour block ECW and hype up the brand rivalry like they occasionally used to. Though I assume Smackdown is the more profitable brand at this point.

[bigddan11]

One option they might want to consider is removing ECW and putting Smackdown on Sci-Fi. Removing their 1-hour show wouldn't be such a big loss, especially considering they've only been doing the show for a year and it hasn't exactly been a major success. Or, depending on what brand they want to keep, they could just call the 2-hour block ECW and hype up the brand rivalry like they occasionally used to. Though I assume Smackdown is the more profitable brand at this point.
ECW has been on for a year and a half now, not just a year. I would still keep three shows, but originally the talent merger between the two brands was in case ECW didn't get renewed. Supposedly they kept that talent exchange up in case this did happen, which means ECW and SmckDown! merging is possible.

[Mattashell]

They should have kept this news quiet until they found a home for it.

[The Penguin]

This seems like a bad call for me, especially when the new CW is so young. Good luck filling this slot, boys. I won't be surprised if we hear in the next few months that CW has changed its mind. That'd be smart too.



I had actually read a few times in the past that they had received offers from Fox, but I don't know if it's actually true or if their contract with NBCU would permit that anyway.I don't have a source, but I remember that as well. I also seem to recall that FOX would be interested in it being live and with WWE's current production schedule that would be a no-go.

[Draft]

For one thing, Tyra Banks says "hello" with "America's Next Top Model", which, like Smackdown, was part of the merger between WB & UPN. "Top Model" is sticking around, although earlier episodes are being played into the ground with relentless marathons on MTV & VH1 seemingly every weekend in a mad grab for ratings. Who's to say "Top Model", which isn't on every week, isn't getting the same kind of numbers, if not more, than Smackdown, thus making the decision a little easier?

Sci-Fi has an established Friday lineup, as does USA, so they're not about to tinker. Bravo, not so much. I doubt Vince wants to do business with Rupert Murdoch, if what I read was true that he hates Murdoch, so scratch Fox and MyNetwork TV. NBC could use a little help on the weekends, be it Friday or Saturday. Smackdown cures the problem of replaying eps from other shows during the week, at least for 2 hours, and a consistent presence, coupled with mass cross-promotion, might erase the disappointment of Saturday Night's Main Event since its relaunch 2 years ago.

Well, Tyra doesn't air as many weeks as most of it's programming (For example, it isn't airing right now). Also, The ratigns have been steadily dipping for the show. I wouldn't be suprised if WWE gets better ratings. Also, WWE lasts 2 hours, and brings in the demo the CW has a hard time attracting, 18-49 Males.

Isn't Most of Sci-Fi's shows goign to Sunday? (I kno Battlestar Galatica is, and Flash Gordon is cancelled). I personally bet that Fox would try and get it, I don't know a lot abotu the WWE and the dispute between Fox and w/e. I bet that fox would be better suited since they run a 2 hour schedule and would generate the most viewership..

[DrTooth]

Good job CW, letting your top performing show leave. Considering that their highest scripted show, Smallville, only had 3.8 million viewers to WWE's 4.8 million and is also probably more expensive than WWE. Not to mention most of their shows get less than 2 million viewers (Life Is Wild got a 0.7 for a premire episode, thoguh it was against the Super Bowl, and the season finallie of Crowned got 1.5)

This is the same CW that sold it's high rated saturday morning programming to the competition that gets the #2 spot at best. Let's not forget that. I really don't want to get on that rant again, but to sum it up: Kids that got everything they wanted on a silver platter when they were younger, now grown up expect the same results.

But then again, I hate that wrestling has become so... cheesy. I mean, half the promos I ever see, I expect to hear, "And will Wally Tuskett finally defeat the Pumpinator and defeat the dMp once and for all?" at the end of them. When the cartoons are more realistic, you have to change your course.