WWE and NBC Universal Fail To Reach Television Rights Deal

Variety.com is reporting, WWE and NBC Universal did not reach a deal this past Friday and are now free to negotiate a new deal with other networks. Raw and Smackdown will continue to air on NBCU channels until September 30th and NBCU has the right to match any deal offered from another network before WWE can accept another offer. 

WWE issued the following statement regarding the negotiations:

"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."