The Wrap and ESPN are both reporting that Fox stepped up with a “massive” offer (per ESPN) to offer SmackDown a new home, starting in October 2019; neither WWE nor Fox have officially commented on the reports.
About a week after NBC Universal tapped out and elected not to renew its deal to air WWE’s SmackDown LIVE, Fox reportedly has stepped into the ring to pin down the long-running wrestling series.
NBCU reportedly freed up the franchise earlier this month, choosing to instead focus on keeping RAW in the house.
Fox entertainment CEO Dana Walden said in January that once Disney’s $52 billion purchase of multiple Fox assets not including the broadcast network shakes out, “80 percent” of the programming on the network “will be live and sports,” with the balance filled out by entertainment programming.