WWE Scraps Plans To Make Big Change To SmackDown: Report

Newsweek

5 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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WWE SmackDown is set to continue its three-hour broadcast format on the USA Network for the "foreseeable future," a notable decision given earlier expectations for the show to go back to a shorter length. This news comes via a recent report from WrestleVotes Radio on SportsKeeda's Backstage Pass.
The report states that SmackDown will remain a 3-hour show for the foreseeable future. This marks a shift from what was understood to be the original plan. According to the report, originally, the show was agreed upon to move back to 2 hours beginning in June this year [2025].
The continuation of the extended format is reportedly due to the network's positive reception. The primary driver for maintaining the three-hour runtime is attributed to the USA Network's satisfaction with the program's viewership and overall performance.
WrestleVotes indicates that the "USA Network has been happy with the performance of the show numbers-wise with the added third hour." SmackDown made its move to the USA Network in October 2024, and the three-hour format has been a consistent feature since its debut on the channel.
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This is a change from the show's traditional two-hour runtime during its many years on other networks, including FOX. The decision to maintain three hours aligns SmackDown's length with WWE's flagship Monday Night RAW, which has also been a three-hour program for over a decade, while NXT typically runs for two hours.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las...
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul "Triple H" Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. MoreA three-hour weekly show provides WWE with more television time to develop multiple storylines, feature a larger portion of its talent roster, and present longer, more in-depth matches.
This can be advantageous for building characters and feuds leading into premium live events. However, longer show lengths can sometimes be a point of discussion among WWE fans regarding pacing and content density.
For the USA Network, a successful three-hour block of WWE programming offers a strong anchor in its weekly schedule, likely contributing to consistent viewership and valuable advertising revenue across all three hours. The network's reported happiness with the "numbers" suggests that the extended SmackDown is delivering from a ratings or engagement standpoint.
WWE fans can expect Friday nights on USA Network to continue offering an extended dose of SmackDown action. Perhaps, if ratings start to decline, then a change will be made.
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