Earlier today, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier confirmed that, as expected, WWE SmackDown Live WILL air live for two hours every Friday night from 8 pm – 10 pm ET. The show will make its debut on Friday 4th October
At the network’s official 2019-2020 fall schedule, Collier said –
“Today marks a new beginning for Fox Entertainment. So it is with a start-up mindset and, upon an incredible foundation of assets, that we deliver our first slate of new comedies, dramas, and unscripted series. Alongside top creators and talent, and through innovative partnerships across the industry, we are redefining what it means to be an entertainment company, and what it means to be Fox, for 2019 and beyond.”
It will be taking the place of Last Man Standing. The show hasn’t been canceled but will air later in the season as per industry insider website Deadline.
There have been rumors of SmackDown Live running to a third hour but with today’s announcement, those rumors have been shot down.
The rumors came about when WWE Co-President George Barrios spoke in a 2019 first quarter call last month. He commented that WWE had been used to monetizing six hours of content for a while. And that the company would be deciding in the next few months how they would use the sixth hour. Opening up the possibility of the third hour on SmackDown Live.
Last month I wrote that Triple H himself spoke of a new studio show that will air on FS1 this fall on Tuesday nights. It looks to be a discussion based studio show. It will go behind the scenes into the personal lives of WWE Superstars.
? BREAKING NEWS ?
During @FTFonFS1, just two days before #Wrestlemania, @TripleH reveals @FS1 is planning a weekly WWE focused studio show beginning in the Fall on Tuesday nights. pic.twitter.com/J6TChObQ0w
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) April 5, 2019
Blake’s Take: We all knew this news was coming. Can the show take the hit from moving to Friday nights? We all know Friday’s aren’t great for TV shows. Could SmackDown Live be the one that bucks the trend? Also, how will this affect the touring schedule for the WWE and it’s performers? One would imagine that all these questions will be answered in the coming months. Smackdown Live will air on Fox for a confirmed two hours timeslot.
