STAMFORD, Conn. -- World Wrestling Entertainment has reached athree-year agreement that will return its "WWE Raw" cable program toUSA Network in October, company officials said Monday.
The deal with NBC Universal resolves a major issue for theStamford-based producer of televised wrestling matches. "Raw,"regularly among the most popular cable programs, needed to find a newhome after Spike TV decided not to extend its contract with WWE thatends in September.
But WWE will lose about $13 million in net income, or $37 millionin revenue, as a result of lost advertising under the new deal, thecompany said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
WWE said USA will sell and retain all advertising in theprogramming. Under the existing agreement with Spike TV, WWE sellsthe majority of ads in its cable programs. But WWE said the new dealoffers benefits by being on a larger, more established network.
USA will air a one-hour "Raw" program on weekends. AP
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