FOX And USA Annoyed With WWE Over WrestleMania Replays
FOX wanted to show old events on FS1.
According to an expansive report from Sports Illustrated, WWE's chief television broadcasters, FOX and the USA Network, are understood to be less than thrilled at WWE making a deal with ESPN to broadcast replays of several WrestleManias over the past three weeks.
FOX, who agreed a mammoth billion-dollar deal to air SmackDown in 2018, are particularly aggrieved at WWE offering content up to a rival, as they'd hoped WrestleMania reruns could be used to boost FS1 numbers in the lead-up to this year's edition. Ultimately, WWE snubbed their existing partners on the presumption ESPN would attract bigger numbers than the FOX sports channel.
The relationship between WWE and ESPN apparently goes as far back as last year. SI noted that the network wanted to up their coverage of WrestleMania 35, including a desk at the show itself. Talks broke down when Vince McMahon nixed the idea of ESPN showing behind-the-scenes footage - the exact sort usually preserved for WWE Network specials.
Discussions for an extended partnership between the two parties resumed this year, though they ended upon the emergence of the global health crisis. ESPN were reportedly unwilling to invest in a product shrouded in uncertainty.
Nevertheless, the channel did strike a deal to air old WrestleManias - against the better wishes of WWE execs who feared it'd damage WWE Network subscription numbers.