According to Variety, NBC Universal and WWE did not reach a new deal for the WWE”s TV rights during the exclusive negotiating period that ended on Friday. WWE released the following statement on the situation…
“WWE’s exclusive negotiating period with NBCU for our flagship television programs Raw and Smackdown has now expired. While we were unable to reach an agreement with NBCU during this period, we have certainly appreciated our long and productive partnership. With year-round, live programming that is highly coveted by programmers, distributors and advertisers, we are extremely excited about our future. We look forward to engaging with potential partners who recognize the value of having the #1 show on cable and live content delivered 52 weeks a year.”
Unless a new deal is announced, Raw and Smackdown will stay on USA and SyFy through September 30th. NBC Universal has the right to match any offer WWE receives.
