FOX Has Not Started Renewal Talks With WWE

Earlier this year, Vince McMahon made a return to WWE and subsequently joined the Board of Directors. He then assumed the position of Executive Chairman of the company, which sparked outrage among fans. Despite this backlash, WWE continues to rake in profits due to their many television deals, including one with FOX. That being said, FOX has yet to start renewal talks with Vince McMahon’s company.

Friday Night Smackdown moved to FOX back in 2019 when the two parties struck a five-year deal that will last until 2024. While Smackdown has consistently managed to maintain a decent viewership number, the deal has not been a good one for FOX.

While speaking at a Morgan Stanley investor conference on Thursday, FOX CEO Lachlan Murdoch talked about WWE. Murdoch addressed the TV rights for SmackDown as well.

Murdoch revealed that FOX and WWE have not started discussions on another media rights deal for Friday Night Smackdown. According to a quote attributed to Murdoch, he expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with WWE whenever they feel ready to do so. He also expressed the hope that if WWE is ever sold, the current management team remains in place.

Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch says “we have not engaged with” WWE on rights-renewal talks, but they’re “happy” to when it’s time – at Morgan Stanley conference

Murdoch also hopes WWE’s new owner is a good partner. WWE could also lose their television deal with FOX. We will have to wait and see whether FOX will end up renewing their deal with WWE in the end.