WWE RAW and Smackdown to Leave USA and Syfy?

Soooo, that could have gone better.

NBC Universal and WWE did not reach a new deal for the TV rights to RAW and Smackdown during the exclusive negotiating period that ended this past Friday. Which means that those two shows, which air on NBCU's USA and Syfy networks, will have to find new homes come September 30th.

That being said, this doesn't mean the end to negotiations, just to NBCU's exclusive 15-day window to re-up.

The WWE released the following statement:

"WWE's exclusive negotiating period with NBCU for our flagship television programs Raw and Smackdown has now expired. While we were unable to reach an agreement with NBCU during this period, we have certainly appreciated our long and productive partnership. With year-round, live programming that is highly coveted by programmers, distributors and advertisers, we are extremely excited about our future. We look forward to engaging with potential partners who recognize the value of having the #1 show on cable and live content delivered 52 weeks a year."

Continue reading…