SmackDown Live could increase its duration on FOX

As we know that WWE will begin broadcasting SmackDown on FOX Network, on Fridays, starting October 4, 2019. Last February, Charlie Collier, CEO of FOX Entertainment, commented that it was a “short-term” movement, although he did not offer more details.

However, in the last edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that WWE would be thinking about adding a third hour to SmackDown Live, once the transition to FOX is made. The feeling among WWE managers is that, since the 205 Live tapings have to be made, it can be beneficial to do the first two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm on FOX and then continue from 10 pm to 11 pm at the affiliate. FOX, FOX Sports 1.

According to Dave Meltzer, the benefits of WWE, thanks to the agreement with FOX and only if this is the route they finally decide to take, would amount to more than fifty million dollars a year. Although up until now there seems to be nothing concrete, according to Dave Meltzer, it is an option that WWE would be considering.

As reported by the Wrestling Observer, making SmackDown Live a three-hour program would not have been brought to the table until after FOX Sports 1 lost its programming to the UFC after ESPN and the mixed martial arts company arrived, to a TV deal, so adding more WWE programming could be a way for FOX to potentially offset the losses generated by the UFC game to ESPN.