Source: Los Angeles Times
After over a decade on network television, WWE’s Friday night SmackDown franchise is moving to cable this October.
Later this week, it will be announced that SmackDown will be joining NXT on the SyFy Channel, an affiliate of WWE’s longtime cable partner, USA Network (both under the NBC Universal umbrella.)
SyFy will be paying close to $30 million a year for the SmackDown franchise, up 50% from the $20 million WWE has been getting from MyNetwork TV.
Smackdown will continue to air on Friday nights when it moves to Syfy. As of late, the show has been averaging 3.5 million viewers a week and does well with the important 18-34 demographic.
