UPDATEDx2: Fox Reportedly Reaches $1 Billion Deal With WWE to Air Smackdown

UPDATE 2: The New York Post has one more big detail for the huge Smackdown-to-FOX story. According that report, the blue brand’s show will go from two-to-three hours when it moves to the network.

UPDATED: According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Smackdown deal on Fox is expected to begin in October 2019, and will mark a three-fold increase over what NBCUniversal is currently paying. The new five-year deal is reportedly worth over $1 billion ($205 million yearly.)

ORIGINAL: According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, WWE has agreed in principle to make Fox (NOT Fox Sports 1) the new home of “SmackDown Live,” after the network came to WWE with what sources described as a “massive” offer. The terms of the deal have not been revealed, but the deal would begin in October of 2019. A representative for WWE declined to comment. The Wrap is also reporting the same, but notes that the show will move to Friday nights.