*By Conor White* World Wrestling Entertainment and Fox Sports have agreed to a [reported $1 billion deal](https://www.thewrap.com/wwe-smackdown-fox-broadcast-fridays-fall-2019/) that will bring the wrestling show "Smackdown" to broadcast television in 2019. The move gives WWE access to a wider audience, according to Tony Maglio, the TV editor at The Wrap, and it gives Fox Sports live content that draws young male viewers coveted by advertisers. "These combat sports target young males, and young males are always going to be a very desirable demographic," Maglio said in an interview Wednesday with Cheddar. WWE already has its own robust streaming platform, and a deal with NBC for its wrestling show "Raw" on the USA Network. The Fox deal takes it to the next level. "Vince McMahon wants the exposure," said Maglio. "The exposure on broadcast, which he's been on before, it's greater than cable, it's greater than streaming." For Fox, which may lose part of its pipeline for scripted series when Disney or Comcast complete a deal for 21st Century Fox studios, the addition of "Smackdown" gives programming executives a new source of live entertainment, said Maglio. For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/fox-sports-pins-smackdown).

Share:
More In Business
Australia Cracks Down on Buy Now, Pay Later
Australia's government announced regulations for buy now, pay later services, which will be labeled as consumer credit products, which puts them under the country's Securities and Investments Commission's watch.
The Day Ahead: Earnings, Home Sales Data, Microsoft Software Conference
Cheddar News checks in to see what's on The Day Ahead, which will include earnings from Lowe's, Dick's Sporting Goods, BJ's and AutoZone along with new home sales data. In addition, Microsoft's Build 2023 Developer Conference is slated to kick off for software engineers and web developers.
GM North American President Rory Harvey on EV Market
Rory Harvey, General Motors' incoming North American president, joined Cheddar News to discuss GM's foray into the rapidly-changing electric vehicle market along with what lies ahead. "It's a very dynamic time in the automotive industry," he said. "If you look to the transformation across the EVs, it's happening and it's happening at a pace."
Load More