Smackdown is leaving MyNetwork TV for the SyFy Channel, according to a report by The Los Angeles Times.
The deal is expected to be announced later this week, with the change likely taking place in either late September or early October. Smackdown will continue to air on Fridays at 8 p.m. after it moves to SyFy.
When the move goes into effect, WWE's top three shows – Raw, Smackdown and NXT – will all be under the NBC Universal umbrella (Superstars airs on WGN, which is owned by The Tribune Company, which also owns The Baltimore Sun. This will mark the first time that Smackdown has aired on cable. It debuted on UPN in 1999, moved to the CW in 2006 and then to MyNetwork TV in 2008.
The change in venue for Smackdown is a positive for WWE for several reasons. According to the report, My Network TV was paying approximately $20 million for the show, while the deal with SyFy is closer to $30 million. Plus – despite its name – MyNetwork TV isn't even considered a network anymore, as Smackdown is its only original program. Moreover, the problem of Smackdown being pre-empted in some markets when it conflicts with local sports programming will be eliminated.