More on WWE SmackDown Staying at Three Hours – WWE SmackDown will continue its three-hour format on the USA Network for the foreseeable future, but according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE is not receiving any additional compensation for the extended hour—at least not according to current information.
Meltzer reported that the USA Network made the call to stick with three hours, even though the original plan was for the show to revert to a two-hour format starting in June. That change was expected to come with a different program occupying the 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET time slot, but those plans were reportedly scrapped. Meltzer noted, “For whatever reason, they made the call that it wasn’t worth it.”
The primary reason, he explained, is rooted in ratings. “I think they realized that hour three is going to do triple of anything that they’re going to put on in that show,” Meltzer said. “SmackDown is so far and away the biggest show on that station. So, yeah they’re not making the move, at least for the foreseeable future.”
Co-host Bryan Alvarez responded to the report with disbelief, questioning whether WWE was receiving a financial increase to compensate for the third hour. “So clearly they must be being paid some new deal,” Alvarez speculated. Meltzer quickly replied, “No,” prompting Alvarez to quip, “They’re doing this for free? I’m suffering through this for charity?”
Meltzer then offered insight into the likely business terms, stating that WWE must have given USA Network the option to extend the show without renegotiating the deal. He explained that any new revenue generated from the extra hour would have shown up on shareholder calls or investor filings. “We would have seen the difference in the money,” he said. “So obviously, the money is not changed, because if it was, we’d have been told.”
The third hour has been performing well in the ratings, which appears to be a key factor in USA Network’s decision to stick with the current format. Unless another show can match SmackDown’s ability to draw advertisers and viewership in that time slot, the network sees no reason to cut it back to two hours.
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