WWE News: WWE Extends Its TV Deal In New Zealand

WWE has extended its deal to air live programming in New Zealand!

The countdown clock is officially on for WWE’s new television deals here in the United States, as RAW will remain with USA Network while SmackDown Live makes the move to Friday nights on FOX next October.

Outside of the United States, the company has renewed a number of broadcasting deals around the globe over the past year-plus and today, the company’s plans to continue airing RAW, SmackDown Live and Main Event in New Zealand:

WWE® and SKY Extend Long-Standing Partnership in New Zealand

AUCKLAND, New Zealand and STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE (NYSE:WWE) and SKY will extend their partnership into its 19th year with a new agreement to continue broadcasting WWE programming live in New Zealand, including WWE’s flagship shows Raw® and SmackDown® as well as all of WWE’s live monthly special events, including WrestleMania®, SummerSlam®, Survivor Series® and Royal Rumble®.

SKY 5 will continue airing Raw live at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays with re-airs at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, SmackDown live at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays with re-airs at 4:15 p.m. on Sundays, and Main Event®, a one-hour in-ring show featuring Raw Superstars at 6 p.m. on Sundays. These shows will also be available for catch-up viewing on SKY On Demand.

Additionally, Prime, SKY’s free-to-air channel, will televise one-hour versions of Raw and SmackDown on Fridays beginning in 2019. Fans can order all of WWE’s live monthly special events on SKY pay-per-view channel, SKY Arena.

“SKY shares our vision and passion for engaging and entertaining our fans, and we are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with them,” said Michelle Wilson, WWE Co-President. “This agreement allows us to continue showcasing our unique blend of action-packed, family friendly entertainment live in New Zealand.”

“For almost 20 years we’ve given passionate WWE fans in New Zealand the ability to watch their favourite Superstars and we’re thrilled to extend this relationship,” said Rachel Thomson, SKY’s Manager of General Entertainment Channels. “With our live coverage, fans won’t miss a minute of Raw and SmackDown each week, and they also have the option of watching WWE’s exciting live monthly specials on SKY Arena. We are also pleased to offer WWE content to more Kiwiswith condensed versions of Raw and SmackDown on our free-to-air channel, Prime.”

Live in New Zealand? What do you think of this deal? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!