SmackDown joins RAW in an extended format as WWE expands partnerships with Netflix and USA Network
Summary
– WWE RAW and SmackDown to shift to three-hour formats starting in 2025
– RAW moves exclusively to Netflix under a ten-year, $5 billion deal
– SmackDown’s USA Network deal includes four primetime specials on NBC
WWE RAW and SmackDown are gearing up for three-hour broadcasts starting in 2025. RAW, which has fluctuated between two and three hours, is set to return to a full three-hour format when it transitions to Netflix next year. Meanwhile, SmackDown will expand to three hours on Friday nights as part of its new contract with USA Network. This marks the first time SmackDown will feature a consistent three-hour slot.
Currently airing on FOX, SmackDown will shift to USA Network in October 2024 under a five-year, $1.4 billion agreement, with added value through four annual primetime WWE specials on NBC. RAW’s exclusive move to Netflix comes as part of a $5 billion deal that gives Netflix global broadcast rights, enhancing WWE’s reach to a broader international audience starting in 2025.
