The CW, WWE End Friday Night SmackDown Tag-Team
WWE May Bring SmackDown to Another Network After 2007-08 Aeason
By B&C Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/8/2008 3:11:00 AM
WWE Friday Night SmackDown is leaving The CW’s primetime ring. After a decade on The CW and its precursor, UPN, World Wrestling Entertainment’s grappling franchise will leave the network at the end of the 2007-08 season.
Announcing the news late Thursday, WWE said The CW’s “exclusive negotiation period” ended Jan. 31.
“We have been contacted and have been in negotiations with other networks,” the wrestling body added in a statement, although it didn’t say which networks. "We are grateful to [CBS chief] Les Moonves, [The CW chief] Dawn Ostroff and their entire organization for bringing WWE Smackdown to millions of viewers for so many years.”
Smackdown reliably buoyed viewership for UPN and continued to deliver ratings when the CBS-owned network merged with Warner Bros.’ The WB to create The CW. But the high-testosterone hit stood apart from The CW’s more female-targeting programs like Gossip Girl and America’s Next Top Model.
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Actually, Telemundo is owned by NBC.
Anonymous - 2/8/2008 11:59:00 PM EST -
I THINK THIS IS A HORRIBLE MOVE ON BOTH ENDS.
When I was growing up, I watched SmackDown! (that's the proper spelling) on UPN and now the CW.
I do not have cable, therefore I never see Raw or ECW on Sci-Fi
I know CBS is also affiliated with telmundo, does this mean Raw will no longer be carried on TeleMundo?
All I can say is, I won't be watching the CW anymore most likely, and if SmackDown! is broadcasted exclsuively on cable/stelite/dish/direct, i will not be watching that either. SmackDown! belongs on UPN/the CW, it's where it all started, and it reminds us of a better time.
Well don't copletely F-up WWE.
MyNetworkTV or bust Vincent Kennedy McMahon, you may have pissed off more people than you know.
Rob Keller - 2/8/2008 10:33:00 PM EST -
This does not bode well for the CW Network. Wrestling brought significant ratings on Friday nights. This will also skew a female weighted network even more female. Making it a harder sell. Bad move dood.
dood - 2/8/2008 9:06:00 AM EST
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