UPDATEDx2: WWE Backstage Reportedly to Air Only During Big Shows and PPVs, FOX Sports 1 Issues Statement

UPDATE 2: It appears as if WWE Backstage will stick around only for larger shows and PPVs, according to a new report. Orlando reporter Jon Alba has reported that WWE will now air “only around PPVs and big shows.” Alba gave some context as well, noting that FOX was initially planning to put together a whole division dedicated to WWE including feature producers, though that is all over now.

Alba notes that this change is not going to affect Smackdown airing on FOX and that about 20 people have lost jobs at FOX Sports 1 between WWE and boxing being cut back.

FOX Sports 1 has issued a statement on the matter to POST Wrestling, which reads:

Today, we announced programming changes designed to better address the needs of our business. As a result, some positions in our production department have been eliminated.

Prior to #WWE moving to Fox, there was an entire division being put together dedicated solely to the WWE product. There were feature producers being brought on. They were searching for on-air talent. It certainly seemed like a major investment.

Appears today that's mostly over.

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) June 22, 2020

FS1 will be stripping WWE Backstage back to airing only around PPVs and big shows, but none of the cuts will affect Smackdown's status on Friday nights on Fox, as reported by @Ourand_SBJ. Says around 20 people lost jobs today through boxing and #WWE divisions.

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) June 23, 2020

UPDATE: More details are coming out about the apparent halt of WWE Backstage. PWInsider reports that FOX held a meeting several hours ago, telling everyone working on the show that it is “done in its current format” for now. The belief among those involved in the show is that the show is “done” completely with the exception of the “outside chance” that it could be used for special programming, and there is currently no plan for such a thing to happen although the situation is being left open so FOX Sports 1 could to more if they wanted.

There will not be a new episode produced tomorrow, and a rerun of an older episode is likely to air tomorrow. As for CM Punk, he is under contract to FOX and not WWE so Punk would need to sign a contract with WWE (completely unlikely) in order to be moved to other WWE programming.

ORIGINAL: WWE Backstage appears to be going to a more periodic schedule, with FOX Sports 1 reportedly cutting back on it. According to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, FOX Sports 1 is pulling back on its production of boxing and WWE “shoulder programming” and Backstage will “no longer produced weekly.”

More details on the development are set to be revealed later tonight. WWE Backstage has been airing weekly, with the exception of a one week break caused by the panedmic in mid-March, since November 5th. The show has not garnered huge ratings, with a 0.042 ratings average in the 18 – 49 demographic and an average of 115,000 viewers in 2020. CM Punk’s appearances on the show have been a draw — his episodes have seen an average rating increase of 46% and a viewership increase of 42% — although he is a sporadic part of the analyst panel with approximately monthly appearances.

The report notes that the boxing show “Inside PBC” is being eliminatred entirely and that all the cutbacks combined will result in “Double digit job losses.”

FS1 is scaling back production on its boxing and WWE shoulder programming. "WWE Backstage will not longer be produced weekly. It is eliminating "Inside PBC." Double digit job losses as a result. SBJ Media will have the full story tonight.

— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) June 22, 2020