TV Networks Pressuring WWE To Book Raw And SmackDown Evenly

The TV networks which host WWE shows haven’t always been thrilled with WWE’s ratings, especially over the last few years, and it appears as though the networks are quite sensitive about what is aired on weekly WWE TV.

According to Andrew Zarian on the Mat Men Podcast, he has been told by his sources that FOX, which broadcasts SmackDown, and the USA Network, which broadcasts Raw, are adamant that the two shows are booked evenly to avoid suggestions of favoritism.

Zarian said:

“From speaking a lot of my friends at the networks, they’re alluding that when you see something big happen on one, expect something big to happen on the other. Maybe not the following week, but they have to treat them weekly, that’s true.”

It was noted on the same podcast that neither network wants to be seen as the network which puts out the “B-show”, given the vast amount of money they paid for the WWE contract.

Now the football season has started, WWE may have to make booking decisions accordingly, in the hope fans will tune into Raw on Monday nights instead of watching the NFL.

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• TV Networks
• RAW
• Smackdown
• wwe

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