WWE SmackDown moves from the USA Network to the Fox broadcast channel on Friday, October 4th. The first SmackDown on Fox takes place just two days after AEW’s new weekly series arrives on TNT.
There is a lot riding on WWE’s new partnership with Fox sports. The 5-year deal is worth approximately $200 million annually for the world’s premiere pro wrestling organization.
Mark Evans, SVP of Sales at Fox Sports, recently spoke with The Big Lead about their plan to challenge ESPN and CBS for professional sports broadcasting supremacy. The article notes that Fox is taking a big leap with WWE by acquiring the rights to air SmackDown “at a time when WWE ratings are trending downward.”
Evans put a positive spin on that situation. He says Fox’s plans to present and promote WWE programming will inject the product with “new life.”
“We feel how we’re going to present and how we’re going to promote the WWE is going to inject it with such a new life,” Evans said. “It’s going to be a home run for us.”
Visit The Big Lead to read the full interview with Fox Sports exec Mark Evans.
