NBCU, WWE Re-Up Deals for Raw, Smackdown
Story Highlights
NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and WWE have announced a multi-year deal for WWE’s flagship programs Monday Night Raw for a three-hour block on USA Network and Friday Night Smackdown on Syfy. The two programs are the longest-running weekly episodic entertainment programs on cable TV with a combined reach of 10.8M viewers each week.
“USA Network President Chris McCumber, Syfy President Dave Howe and I are incredibly pleased to renew this strategic partnership with WWE,” said NBCUniversal Cable Chairman Bonnie Hammer. “In today’s TV landscape, live event programming is an extraordinarily valuable asset, and WWE remains the only entertainment franchise that consistently delivers this on a 52-week a year basis. We look forward to bringing WWE’s action-packed and unique brand of drama to the wide audiences across our cable networks for many years to come.”
WWE weekly programming averages more viewers than the NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL and UFC. Monday Night Raw on USA is the most-watched, regularly scheduled, year-round program on cable, airing a live three-hour block every Monday night, 52 weeks a year. Raw is consistently a top ten show on television. The three-hour block on USA averages 2.2M P18-49, 2.3M P25-54 and 5M total viewers P2+. The 2-hour Friday Night Smackdown on Syfy averages 1.2M P18-49, 1.3M P25-54 and 3.2M total viewers P2+. The two programs have reached 37.5M people 2014 to-date.
“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with NBCUniversal given their premiere position in the marketplace and vast promotional platforms,” said WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. “We are excited about our future as we further the reach and popularity of our live, family-friendly entertainment programming 52 weeks a year.”
In addition, E! – in partnership with WWE and Bunim-Murray Productions – will continue to broadcast the reality series TOTAL DIVAS, a look inside the professional and personal lives of the WWE’s leading ladies.
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