MyNetworkTV Smacks Down CW
The WWE "Smackdown" and all it's nutty good pro wrestling drama is moving to MyNetworkTV this fall.
A different network will likely make little difference to fans of the WWE's brand of pro wrestling--heavy on dramatic shifts in plotlines and good-vs-evil characters.
The network announced the move onTuesday. The two-hour program will begin airing weekly this fall.
“The momentum at MyNetworkTV continues with this major acquisition,” said MyNetworkTV President Greg Meidel. “We have demonstrated tremendous growth, and this partnership with WWE, the premier sports entertainment franchise in the world, is a perfect fit for our viewers, advertisers and affiliates.”
The change could be considered a programming coup for MyNetworkTV, which is a newer network and is struggling for visibility on a cable landscape crowded with competing channels.
The WWE's Smackdown is highly popular, especially among males in the 18-35 demographic.
According to Wikipedia, "WWE Friday Night SmackDown! is a professional wrestling television program for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) currently it is the only television broadcast for the SmackDown! brand."
From its launch in 1999, SmackDown! was shown on Thursday nights, but as of September 9, 2005, the show moved to Friday nights. To reflect this change, the show is now referred to as Friday Night SmackDown!. The SmackDown! brand is currently one of WWE's three brands, the other two being RAW and ECW.
Wrestling buffs will continue to see their favorites on the program, which is moving from CW to MyNetworkTV, which could be considered a coup for the newer network.
Wrestlers Edge, Rey Mysterio, Kane, Undertaker and others will continue to appear on the 9-year-old show, which previously aired on The CW.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon added, “We are excited to add MyNetworkTV and its television affiliates to our family of global network partners. We have an unmatched record of delivering ratings success to each and every network partner we’ve worked with in our long and storied history. We fully intend to bring that same level of success to MyNetworkTV.”
We confess: we're not familiar with MyNetworkTV, but then--we don't watch TV, except for the occasional DVD movie.
But if one wants to partake of the WWE's weekly Jerry-Springer-in-a-ring shows, then a familiarization process had best be undertaken.
Immediately.
But regardless of which channel the pro wrestling conglomerate appears on this fall, one thing will remain the same.
The most useless person in the building will be the referee.
by Mondoreb
hat tip: j_a
images:
* businessinnovationsinsider
* cw58tv
Source: MyNet Lands WWE "Smackdown" for Fall
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