WWE Smackdown-UPN-CW-MyTV question

[Ian]

Since My Network TV launches two weeks before The CW, will those two weeks
of WWE Smackdown be available in the markets where My Network TV is on the
former UPN stations?

Here's a few options:
1. The soon to be former UPN stations don't show Smackdown at all.
(Especially the O&O's)
2. Those stations show Smackdown at another time, in the same way many
stations preempt network programming for sports. (Although MyTV has recap
shows on Saturday nights)
3. The WB stations switching to The CW carry Smackdown on its regular
scheduled Friday night or another time.
4. WWE puts the show on WWE.com

Its a very interesting thing that hasn't been publicly addressed, although
I'm sure that WWE is aware of it...

[e***@aol.com]

Post by Ian
Since My Network TV launches two weeks before The CW, will those two weeks
of WWE Smackdown be available in the markets where My Network TV is on the
former UPN stations?
1. The soon to be former UPN stations don't show Smackdown at all.
(Especially the O&O's)
2. Those stations show Smackdown at another time, in the same way many
stations preempt network programming for sports. (Although MyTV has recap
shows on Saturday nights)
From my reading, the Fox-owned O&O's will NOT show UPN programming

(including original Smackdown episodes) at all during the overlap
period. What the non-O&O's will do isn't clear, some stations may move
the UPN shows to late night/early morning slots for the interim.

Post by Ian
3. The WB stations switching to The CW carry Smackdown on its regular
scheduled Friday night or another time.
4. WWE puts the show on WWE.com

It isn't clear if either option is even legally possible under the
current contracts. WWE streamed one hour of Smackdown last fall that
UPN had pre-empted for a post-Katrina fundraiser. Otherwise, only
Smackdown highlight clips have generally been placed on WWE.com.

Everett W.