NBC/USA Network Reportedly Plans to Keep Only Raw and Not SmackDown

The Hollywood Reporter has a report claiming that sources tell them that NBC Universal, the parent company of USA Network, plans to focus only on renewing their deal for WWE Raw and will allow WWE SmackDown to be picked up by another network. They say that NBCU expects that the deal for Raw is “expected to close at as much as three times its current value.”

WWE’s contract with NBCU/USA Network expires on September 30, 2019, but WWE reportedly hopes to reach a new deal this year, between May and September.

Raw has aired on USA Network from 1993-2000 and 2005 until now. SmackDown has aired on USA Network since 2016.

FOX has been in negotiations with WWE and has been the top network rumored to be a potential new home for Raw or SmackDown.