Real Reason Why FOX Is Dropping WWE SmackDown Revealed

A FOX CEO has lifted the lid on why WWE SmackDown is moving back to USA Network.

by Jamie Kennedy
WWE SmackDown set
WWE

FOX CEO Lachlan Murdoch has explained why they've "moved on" from WWE and why the SmackDown brand will return to NBCUniversal in 2024.

Murdoch told investors during FOX’s Q1 Earnings call that SmackDown was "not hitting the advertising numbers due to the audience of the WWE for our return on investment to be above the levels that we would accept". He then went on to admit that FOX "didn’t attribute enough significant retransmission revenue to the WWE either".

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In short, higher-ups at FOX decided WWE's show wasn't meeting "disciplined parameters". So, ultimately, the call was made not to renew SmackDown in the end. Instead, the Friday night show will air on USA Network once the deal expires next year.

FOX initially put a lot of eyeballs on the show by heavily advertising it during other programming. Ads for SmackDown had started to dry up during NFL broadcasts a while back though. Football fans weren't treated to commentators talking about Hulk Hogan or The Rock during breaks in play, basically.

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It's interesting that Lachlan admits FOX must take some responsibility for how things ended. Even so, they're ready to move on from WWE.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.