UPN to drop WWE Smackdown

GuessWho · 01-26-05, 06:01 PM

The contract gives the WWE one more year, but UPN will not be renewing after that time.

Quote:

"It still makes us a decent amount of money," says Leslie Moonves, co-president and co-chief operating office for Viacom, which owns both CBS and UPN. "When you think about the powerhouses of CBS and NBC on Thursday night, it's great counter-programming. (But) it doesn't fit into the overall (programming) strategy."

http://www.insidebayarea.com/searchresults/ci_2532085

chrisih8u · 01-26-05, 06:04 PM

Wow. Didnt see that coming.

fumanstan · 01-26-05, 06:07 PM

Interesting. Wonder if that will be the end of the WWE on non-cable networks.

pilot · 01-26-05, 06:17 PM

wow..RAW ready to move in Sept (or Oct? or was it August) when their contract is up, now Smackdown...maybe they'll both end up on USA..

the narrator · 01-26-05, 06:23 PM

could possibly be the end of the brand split, but I wouldn't count on it

dancinns · 01-26-05, 06:27 PM

Figures. I just got UPN in my area. I guess I get to enjoy Smackdown for a year.

Jobronie · 01-26-05, 06:31 PM

Quote:

"It still makes us a decent amount of money," says Leslie Moonves, co-president and co-chief operating office for Viacom, which owns both CBS and UPN. "When you think about the powerhouses of CBS and NBC on Thursday night, it's great counter-programming. (But) it doesn't fit into the overall (programming) strategy."

Isn't that almost exactly what USA Network said a few years ago when they dropped Raw: numbers are good but it's not what what we want at this time......?

fujishig · 01-26-05, 06:44 PM

Uh... what is UPN's overall programming strategy? I just don't get it, even with wrestling in a slump it's gotta be one of the higher rated shows on that network... and when their idea of original concepts for shows includes stuff like "the mullets," they must know who their core audience is...

darkside · 01-26-05, 06:52 PM

Wrestling has been dying a painful death for awhile now, I wouldn't mind seeing the horrible WWE product put out of its misery once and for all.

Vince took over wrestling just to ruin it, I still don't get that.

ChrisHicks · 01-26-05, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot

wow..RAW ready to move in Sept (or Oct? or was it August) when their contract is up, now Smackdown...maybe they'll both end up on USA..

SpikeTV is dropping RAW? seems like the WWE is in a bad way right now. do they even have anywhere else to go? USA, MTV and Spike, where next, Bravo? I'm sure Vince could come up with some type of cross promotion with the WWE/Queer Eye.

Third Baseman · 01-26-05, 07:26 PM

There is no way Spike drops Raw.

Nabalab · 01-26-05, 08:46 PM

Something bad happens to the WWE and it's *not* HHH's fault this time!

wmansir · 01-26-05, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkside

Wrestling has been dying a painful death for awhile now, I wouldn't mind seeing the horrible WWE product put out of its misery once and for all.

Vince took over wrestling just to ruin it, I still don't get that.

It was very big in the "Hulkamainia" days, then it died down for a while, then it came back bigger than ever. Now it's declining again, but I wouldn't count it out for good.

raven56706 · 01-26-05, 09:17 PM

Wow its the top show for UPN and they think it doesnt fit...... yeah... maybe they need more Homeboys from Outer Space

nickdawgy · 01-26-05, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkside

Wrestling has been dying a painful death for awhile now, I wouldn't mind seeing the horrible WWE product put out of its misery once and for all.

Vince took over wrestling just to ruin it, I still don't get that.

I disagree, I just started watching it again, and I think it's more popular now then ever.

Daryl · 01-26-05, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

I disagree, I just started watching it again, and I think it's more popular now then ever.

not a chance. ratings and attendance figures continue to slide. in it's heyday in the late 90's, Raw and Nitro would combine for more than a 10 rating on Monday night, with Raw itself often reaching 7+ for the 11:00 overrun. Now, despite a monopoly on Monday night, Raw by itself considers a 4.5 a "good" week.

Eplicon · 01-26-05, 11:13 PM

Smackdown has been quite awful. There's too much emphasis on the backstage schtick, making angles/feuds even less believable. The writing is horrendous. And it's also too cliched having a wrestling chew out an audience on the house mike and then get distracted when their rival appears on the jumbotron to issue a challenge. Every show is the same thing.

For me, wrestling was at its peak in the '80s, but I was more of an NWA fan (Four Horsemen, Nikita Koloff, Magnum T.A., etc.) since their style was far more believable than the cartoonish, family entertainment style of the WWF. Having the Horsemen jump Dusty ("Make it good!") Rhodes in the parking lot was more satisfying than Hulk Hogan cup his ears to hear the cheers after vanquishing an opponent.

POWERBOMB · 01-26-05, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nabalab

Something bad happens to the WWE and it's *not* HHH's fault this time!

Isn't it? Even though he is a Raw brand self-imposed star, he does attend and has on occassion made "suggestions" to Smackdown writers meetings. I remember after a Smackdown PPV Trips was backstage filling in for Vince and giving final approval on the show's content.

Nabalab · 01-26-05, 11:59 PM

I knew HHH was part of the writing team, but I wasn't aware that he had that much power backstage for Vince to let him handle a PPV.

Okay - then it's partly HHH's fault then! Damn - it really does all lead back to Paul...errr Hunter. He needs to be off of TV for awhile.

Mole177 · 01-27-05, 04:20 AM

hmm... so will there be a chance that someone popular from wrestling's peak time will make an appearance?

ie- ultimate warrior?
(i wonder what happend to him anyway...)

chrisih8u · 01-27-05, 05:48 AM

According to wrestlingobserver.com, this story is false.

AndyCapps · 01-27-05, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nabalab

I knew HHH was part of the writing team, but I wasn't aware that he had that much power backstage for Vince to let him handle a PPV.

Well, he is family, being married to Stephanie and all.

GuessWho · 01-27-05, 07:17 AM

Spike TV does not want to drop Raw... Vince is the one thinking about leaving the network, as he feels they don't do enough promotion

Charlie Goose · 01-27-05, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisih8u

According to wrestlingobserver.com, this story is false.

If Meltzer sez it ain't true, it ain't true.

Nabalab · 01-27-05, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyCapps

Well, he is family, being married to Stephanie and all.

Recently on RAW, I saw a sign "HHH Fears Divorce".

01-26-05, 06:07 PM	#3
fumanstan DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 33,343	Interesting. Wonder if that will be the end of the WWE on non-cable networks. __________________ 3x Sheep Champion VG Round 1b \| VG Round 7 \| NFL

01-26-05, 06:23 PM	#5
the narrator DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,462	could possibly be the end of the brand split, but I wouldn't count on it __________________ my wonderful DVD collection

01-26-05, 06:27 PM	#6
dancinns DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 8,242	Figures. I just got UPN in my area. I guess I get to enjoy Smackdown for a year. __________________ Facebook \| Twitter XBox Live/PSN Gamertag: dancinns

01-26-05, 06:52 PM	#9
darkside DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Antonio Posts: 19,827	Wrestling has been dying a painful death for awhile now, I wouldn't mind seeing the horrible WWE product put out of its misery once and for all. Vince took over wrestling just to ruin it, I still don't get that. __________________ DVDAF/DVD Profiler/Games Wii Code: 6061 0636 6661 8088 PSN & XBL: aagstn

01-26-05, 07:26 PM	#11
Third Baseman DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,628	There is no way Spike drops Raw. __________________ RaisedByKubrick.com [] HBLBaseball [] ATHBaseball [] "Telling Redsfan a baseball season is 162 games is like telling a shark, 'If you've seen one bloody tuna, you've seen 'em all.'"

01-26-05, 06:04 PM	#2
chrisih8u DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: A few miles north of the Cape Posts: 17,669	Wow. Didnt see that coming.

01-26-05, 06:17 PM	#4
pilot Administrator Join Date: Mar 1999 Posts: 6,193	wow..RAW ready to move in Sept (or Oct? or was it August) when their contract is up, now Smackdown...maybe they'll both end up on USA..

01-26-05, 06:44 PM	#8
fujishig DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 1999 Posts: 13,711	Uh... what is UPN's overall programming strategy? I just don't get it, even with wrestling in a slump it's gotta be one of the higher rated shows on that network... and when their idea of original concepts for shows includes stuff like "the mullets," they must know who their core audience is...

01-26-05, 08:46 PM	#12
Nabalab DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,078	Something bad happens to the WWE and it's not HHH's fault this time! __________________ "Life is oh so much better when you're looking forward to buying your next dvd"

01-26-05, 09:17 PM	#14
raven56706 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Back in the Good Ole USA Posts: 18,840	Wow its the top show for UPN and they think it doesnt fit...... yeah... maybe they need more Homeboys from Outer Space

01-26-05, 11:13 PM	#17
Eplicon DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 2,074	Smackdown has been quite awful. There's too much emphasis on the backstage schtick, making angles/feuds even less believable. The writing is horrendous. And it's also too cliched having a wrestling chew out an audience on the house mike and then get distracted when their rival appears on the jumbotron to issue a challenge. Every show is the same thing. For me, wrestling was at its peak in the '80s, but I was more of an NWA fan (Four Horsemen, Nikita Koloff, Magnum T.A., etc.) since their style was far more believable than the cartoonish, family entertainment style of the WWF. Having the Horsemen jump Dusty ("Make it good!") Rhodes in the parking lot was more satisfying than Hulk Hogan cup his ears to hear the cheers after vanquishing an opponent.

01-26-05, 11:59 PM	#19
Nabalab DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,078	I knew HHH was part of the writing team, but I wasn't aware that he had that much power backstage for Vince to let him handle a PPV. Okay - then it's partly HHH's fault then! Damn - it really does all lead back to Paul...errr Hunter. He needs to be off of TV for awhile. __________________ "Life is oh so much better when you're looking forward to buying your next dvd"

01-27-05, 04:20 AM	#20
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,363	hmm... so will there be a chance that someone popular from wrestling's peak time will make an appearance? ie- ultimate warrior? (i wonder what happend to him anyway...)

01-27-05, 05:48 AM	#21
chrisih8u DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: A few miles north of the Cape Posts: 17,669	According to wrestlingobserver.com, this story is false.

01-27-05, 07:17 AM	#23
GuessWho DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 21,965	Spike TV does not want to drop Raw... Vince is the one thinking about leaving the network, as he feels they don't do enough promotion