Smackdown’s new home
WWE issued a news release today announcing that MyNetworkTV will be the new home of Smackdown beginning next fall.
It had been announced earlier this month that the show, which debuted on UPN in 1999 and moved to The CW in September 2006, would be heading to another network.
MyNetworkTV was mentioned early on as a possible destination for Smackdown. Reportedly, NBC Universal, which owns the USA Network and Sci Fi Channel, the homes for Raw and ECW, respectively, had no interest in picking up another WWE program.
Other than MyNetworkTV, the only other network that expressed interest in Smackdown was WGN, which is owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns The Sun. Because MyNetworkTV is seen in more homes than WGN, it appears to be the best option.
Still, when I first heard that MyNetworkTV was in the running, my initial reaction was: What’s MyNetworkTV? And will I still be able to watch Smackdown? I did a little research and was relieved to learn that there is a Baltimore affiliate for the network — WUTB-24.
As I have written before, this seems like a step down for WWE. I went on the network’s Web site and looked at their programs, and I haven’t heard of any of them. Some of the titles included: Whacked Out Videos, Street Patrol and Jail.
The good news for WWE is that its presence on MyNetworkTV will increase the network’s profile and overall ratings. The bad news is that a network such as this doesn’t seem real stable.
Comments
This is a stupid move by CW.
What will they replace SD! with?
Another Wayans brother comedy? Give me a break.
I don't even know if I get MyNetwork at my house. I hope SD! will be streamed on the internet, in case I don't have it.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2008 6:03 PM
UPN used to be the channel what MyNetwork is. They should just say "turn back to the channel what we used to be on."
Posted by: Neil | February 26, 2008 6:53 PM
This stinks. We just got CW in HD and WWE just went HD. Now their moving to a channel that isn't in HD.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 26, 2008 8:04 PM
Kevin , if saying that one good thing is that WWE would increase the network's profile , I'm not so sure that would happen overnight looking at the rest of their programming schedule . Too bad.
Posted by: jack in hebron | February 26, 2008 8:26 PM
"UPN used to be the channel what MyNetwork is. They should just say 'turn back to the channel what we used to be on.'"
That would not be the correct thing to say. There are former UPN affiliates that are either affiliated with the CW, went independent, or picked up religious programming. In some instances My Network TV is aired as secondary programming on a station affiliated with another network.
Posted by: Jay | February 26, 2008 9:18 PM
If you had both UPN and the WB, then which ever one did not become CW should be MyNetworkTV. I have the Pittsburgh, PA stations for the networks and get MNTV on the former WB channel (Comcast channel 10 in my area with CW on channel 15, the former UPN channel). I believe CW and MNTV are in the same amount of homes. A lot of people probably have MNTV and don't realize it.
Posted by: chris | February 26, 2008 10:32 PM
I agree this dose seem like a step down for the wwe. I guess they are get paid well. As for mynetwork tv the best show on there is Jail it is like cop but in jail.
Posted by: kevin | February 27, 2008 8:36 AM
I can only speak for Seattle, but MyNetworkTV is in HD here. Comcast channel 10 for the 'regular station' and 110 for HD station.
Posted by: Mina | February 28, 2008 12:30 AM