As previously reported, FOX network executives were at ringside during last Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown in Los Angeles. FOX is currently interested in the idea of possibly becoming the new home for WWE programming if they can’t get a new television deal done with UFC in the near future.
In an update to this situation, SportingNews.com reported that FOX recently offered the idea of RAW being aired on their main FOX network channel, while SmackDown would air on FOX Sports 1. While FOX recently made an offer of $200 million per year to UFC in order to keep them on the network, both WWE and UFC are reported to be asking for over $400 million per year for a new television deal. FOX is paying around $120 million per year to UFC for their current deal.
If WWE ends up accepting FOX’s offer and if Raw ends up on the main FOX network, RAW would be available in almost every home (300 million+) in the United States due to FOX’s national broadcasting reach. USA Network is currently available in about 91 million homes, while Fox Sports 1 is available in about 87 million. Fox Sports 1 currently averages around 180,000 viewers for shows per day, according to a recent report from Forbes.
Source: Sportingnews.com, Forbes
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