USA Network President Chris McCumber recently spoke with Variety about live programming and the addition of WWE SmackDown to the network beginning in 2016.
“WWE is such an iconic American brand, it feels thematically right to have their two biggest properties on USA Network,” McCumber said. “Having more live programing is a good thing for this network. Having Smackdown and doubling down on WWE is important to us. Partnering with NBC Sports Group to bring Stanley Cup playoff hockey to USA is important move for us. You’ll likely see over the next year more announcements about live sports on USA.”
McCumber was also asked if he worries that the non-WWE sports audience will only come for games.
“(Live sports) helps increase the reach of the network,” he said. “You have a brand-new audience coming to you and one that is a very passionate audience. Right now one of the most important things to do in media is to find passionate niches of fans, whether it’s in sports or original programing, and program and market to them. The NHL and WWE have some of the most passionate fan bases out there. It really grows the whole pie for us.”
Check out the complete interview at Variety.com.