SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Although no details were included, WWE issued a press release to PWTorch today confirming what was widely believed to be inevitable based on TV industry reporting – that Monday Night Raw will remain on USA Network as a three hour Monday night prime time program beyond the current contract, which expires in September 2019. The new contract beginning in October 2019 is reportedly for a massive increase in TV rights fees for WWE.
The following is WWE’s press release including a quote from Vince McMahon and additional information.
USA NETWORK AND WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW
EXTEND LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP
Three-Hour Live Programming Block to Continue Weekly
on Cable’s #1 Entertainment Network
NEW YORK and STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2018 – USA Network and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced a five-year extension for WWE’s flagship program Monday Night Raw. The new agreement for the live, weekly three-hour block which commences in October 2019 continues WWE and USA’s nearly three decade-long relationship. Monday Night Raw, the #1 show on USA Network, delivers action, drama, compelling storylines and unmatched athleticism, 52 weeks per year.
“Monday Night Raw and USA Network have dominated Monday nights during a truly historic run,” says Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Our partnership with WWE is one of the strongest and most successful in the business, and together we’ll take Raw to even greater heights.”
“We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with NBCUniversal and USA Network,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “Monday Night Raw has been synonymous with USA Network and we are excited about what the future holds for WWE’s flagship program.”
On the air for 25 years and more than 1,300 episodes, Monday Night Raw is the longest-running weekly episodic television show in U.S. primetime history and consistently a ratings juggernaut. Among the most-watched, regularly scheduled programs on primetime cable, Raw delivers more viewers in the U.S. than all sports other than the NFL. On USA Network, the weekly block is currently averaging 1.7M P18-49, 1.7M P25-54 and 3.6M total viewers P2+1.
Since its debut in 1993 on USA, Raw has been watched nearly 6 billion times in the U.S. alone. In its 25-year history, Raw has helped launch the careers of pop-culture icons including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, Undertaker, Triple H, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Bella Twins.
NOW CHECK OUT THIS RELATED STORY: NBCU aiming to retain Raw and paying premium to keep it, but willing to let Smackdown go elsewhere, WWE stock soars
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