Major change might be coming to WWE SmackDown - Reports
WWE SmackDown is one of the major shows for the company, currently contracted with FOX. Nick Khan has now said that if SmackDown signs with any other TV Partner except FOX, there might be a change in the day that it's broadcast.
RAW and SmackDown are both currently at their homes on USA Network and FOX on Monday and Friday nights. However, things might be changing soon with the media rights set to be decided soon.
While speaking at the SVB Moffett Nathanson conference, Nick Khan mentioned the TV deal negotiations for WWE SmackDown. With the WWE-UFC merger falling into place now, the next step is the negotiation for the media rights deals for both WWE RAW and SmackDown. USA Network and FOX are both probably set to negotiate with them to keep them where they are, but a lot depends on the right price.
Khan mentioned that if SmackDown agreed on a deal with any other company, they would be willing to move away from Friday nights. The blue brand has previously streamed on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so it's likely that they will make the jump if that's what is needed. He spoke highly about both Amazon and Netflix when speaking about media rights deals.
WWE's Nick Khan just said #SmackDown could switch nights (again) if it goes somewhere else for its next deal. Was speaking pretty highly of Amazon...
Nick Khan has an extremely big deal in mind for WWE SmackDown
Khan mentioned that for five more years of WWE SmackDown, the negotiations for a new deal would begin at 1.5X for US rights. So it would be an opening figure of at least $1.5 billion. That's the minimum figure for five years of SmackDown.
Either way, Khan, being interviewed at the SVB MoffettNathanson Conference, foresees a U.S. rights increase of 1.5x or so. So, we're talking about an opening figure of $1.5 billion for 5 years of #SmackDown, should length of term remain same. twitter.com/TonyMaglio/sta…
If WWE does agree to such a deal, it would mean a great boost for them financially. If any company wants to pay less than that, it would mean the media rights deal would be for fewer years than five.
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