NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and WWE have announced a multi-year partnership that will keep Monday Night Raw and SmackDown on USA Network and Syfy, respectively. The announcement was made today by Paul Levesque, WWE’s EVP Talent, Live Events & Creative, during NBC Universal Cable Entertainment’s upfront presentation in New York.
“USA Network President Chris McCumber, Syfy President Dave Howe and I are incredibly pleased to renew this strategic partnership with WWE,” said NBCU 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.”
Said WWE Chairman/CEO Vince McMahon: “We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with NBCUniversal, given their premier position in the marketplace and vast promotional platforms. We are excited about our future as we further the reach and popularity of our live, family-friendly entertainment programming 52 weeks a year.”
Monday Night Raw airs a live three-hour block every Monday night on USA, averaging 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, NBCU says.
