WWE SmackDown’s shift to a three-hour format on USA Network isn’t going away anytime soon—and surprisingly, WWE isn’t earning extra money for the extended hour.
On the June 16 episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that SmackDown will remain three hours for the foreseeable future unless USA Network decides to change course.
Initially, USA Network planned to air a separate show after SmackDown, but they scrapped the idea after realizing SmackDown’s third hour would outperform any replacement.
When Bryan Alvarez asked if WWE was receiving more money for the extra content, Meltzer gave a blunt "no," clarifying that WWE likely gave USA the contractual option to expand the show without renegotiating payment.
Meltzer noted that if the deal had been altered financially, WWE would have announced the change during investor calls or financial reports.
As it stands, WWE is producing an extra hour of SmackDown without additional compensation, leaving fans—and commentators like Alvarez—surprised that the company agreed to the change without financial benefit.
Source: Wrestling Observer Radio
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