The realm of professional wrestling has always been deeply connected with television, and any shifts in ownership naturally draw attention. Today marks the official end of a long-standing partnership between NBC and the USA Network with the debut of Versant on the NASDAQ, completing NBCUniversal’s cable portfolio separation. As a result, USA Network is no longer under NBC’s ownership, concluding a collaboration that spanned over two decades.
This development is particularly significant because USA Network has been a vital platform for WWE throughout much of modern TV history. WWE RAW first aired on USA Network in 1993, helping to shape both the program and the network’s identity throughout the 1990s. Even after RAW briefly moved away in 2000, it returned to USA Network in 2005 and stayed for nearly 20 years. Besides RAW, USA Network also hosted WWE SmackDown during different periods—most notably from 2016 to 2019, and again in 2024—and has aired live broadcasts of WWE’s NXT since 2019. Together, these shows helped establish USA Network as a prominent home for professional wrestling on cable TV.
NBC and USA Network have been under the same corporate umbrella since 2004, when NBCUniversal consolidated its broadcast and cable operations. Over these 21 years, the two networks have been closely linked, especially when RAW was a staple of primetime TV in the U.S. The recent split officially ends this relationship. Versant, the company now overseeing these assets from the former NBCUniversal, controls a broad portfolio including USA Network, CNBC, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, along with digital and film brands such as Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. This shift marks a major restructuring in how NBCUniversal’s cable properties are managed.
Although WWE’s media presence extends across various platforms including streaming, this change signals the close of a notable era. While USA Network’s new management under Versant might not immediately affect SmackDown’s current broadcast home, future changes could arise depending on new agreements. What are your thoughts on USA Network transitioning to new ownership? Do you believe SmackDown’s time on the network will continue much longer? Share your opinions in the comments.
Fan Take: This news is pivotal for WWE fans because USA Network has been a cornerstone for wrestling programming for over 30 years, deeply shaping how fans experience the sport. As ownership shifts, it could mean new directions for WWE’s televised presence, potentially impacting wrestling’s reach and popularity on cable TV.
