In one of the group’s first moves since becoming part of TKO Group Holdings, WWE has agreed a deal with NBCUniversal for a five-year domestic media rights partnership that will bring Friday Night SmackDown back to USA Network beginning October 2024.
Additionally, beginning in the 2024/25 season, WWE will produce four primetime specials per year that will air on NBC, marking the first time WWE will air on the network in primetime.
Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, commented on the deal: “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.
“It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE which has helped cement USA Network’s consistent position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership.”
As part of WWE and NBCUniversal’s longstanding relationship, USA Network is currently home to WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night Raw, which is the second most watched cable entertainment programme in 2023 in the 18-49 demo.
WWE President Nick Khan described NBCUniversal as having been a ‘tremendous partner of WWE for decades’, as he expressed his excitement over the extension.
