WWE RAW on a day other than Monday? Three hours of WWE SmackDown? CEO Nick Khan is open to these broadcasting possibilities and more as he shared at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media, & Communications Conference.
Nick Khan Open to WWE TV Shake-Ups as New Broadcasting Deals for “RAW” and “SmackDown” Loom
At the moment, WWE is in the middle of a merger with MMA powerhouse UFC. Any changes as the merger materializes will get some attention. The biggest change that can come to WWE besides booking and pushes is a change to the broadcasting.
RAW has always held Monday nights at that time slot and was only moved under certain circumstances. As for SmackDown, when it was taped, it easy for the show to be moved. Originally, it aired on Thursdays before moving to Fridays.
However, since it was on local UPN and MyNetwork TV affiliates, the show could be bumped for high school football or whatever programming. WWE holding Monday is an institution in pro wrestling but Nick Khan is all for big changes in response to a question about flexibility between broadcasters and the company.
First Nick Khan expressed that WWE was open to a third hour of SmackDown and moving the night of the show. It’s interesting in that RAW can be moved and keep the three hours as long as it’s on prime time. The issue is with SmackDown Live which has typically been on network television. Depending on the network, the local news comes on when SD Live goes off the air.
Also of note is the third hour of RAW featuring more mature content—like the old RAW is WAR and Warzone swamp over when RAW flirted with the 9PM FCC regulations in the 90s. There would be some stuff to work out with sponsorship partners having their stuff promoted during the racier hours.
The alternative to that is another Nick Khan suggestion of another night of content for a different audience. What do you think of Khan’s plans for WWE broadcasting? Do you see the third hour of RAW being edgier or a separate Attitude Era-influenced program? What do you make of a third hour of SmackDown Live?
Share your thoughts in comments!
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