SmackDown Officially Announced As Two Hours On Friday Nights On FOX

The 2019-2020 fall schedule of The FOX Network was recently revealed by FOX Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier and it was shown that SmackDown LIVE is scheduled to air for two hours every Friday night from 8PM – 10PM when it debuts on the network on October 4th.

Collier said, “Today marks a new beginning for Fox Entertainment. So it is with a start-up mindset and, upon an incredible foundation of assets, that we deliver our first slate of new comedies, dramas and unscripted series.” “Alongside top creators and talent, and through innovative partnerships across the industry, we are redefining what it means to be an entertainment company, and what it means to be Fox, for 2019 and beyond.”

According to Deadline, SmackDown LIVE will be taking the place of the comedy hit sitcom known as Last Man Standing. The report also states that despite the sitcom not being listed on the fall TV schedule it will be shown later in the season.

More WWE programming is also expected to be announced soon on FS1. It was revealed by WWE COO Triple H last month that a new WWE studio show will be airing on Tuesday nights on FS1 in the fall.

There have also been rumors of a third hour of SmackDown LIVE airing on FS1 either before or after The FOX broadcast. During WWE’s 2019 first quarter earnings call last month, WWE Co-President George Barrios said that WWE has been used to monetizing six hours of content for a long time, however now the sixth hour is being used on The Network (referring to 205 Live). He also said that they will decide in the next several months how to use the sixth hour, which could mean the addition of a third hour of SmackDown LIVE.

Barrios said, “We’ve been monetizing some way, shape or form six hours of content for a long time.” “Today, that sixth hour is primarily being used on the network and we’ll figure out here over the next several months, what we think the best use of, nothing to update now.”

Below is The 2019-2020 fall schedule of The FOX Network:

Monday
8PM – 9PM = 9-1-1
9PM – 10PM = Prodigal Son *

Tuesday
8PM – 9PM = The Resident
9PM – 10PM = Empire

Wednesday
8PM – 9PM = The Masked Singer
9PM – 10PM = Not Just Me *

Thursday
7:30PM = NFL Football

Friday
8PM – 10PM = WWE’s SmackDown LIVE *

Saturday
7PM -10:30PM = FOX College Football

Sunday
7PM – 7:30PM = NFL on FOX
7:30PM – 8PM = The OT / FOX Encores
8PM – 8:30PM = The Simpsons
8:30PM = Bless The Harts *
9PM – 9:30PM = Bob’s Burgers
9:30PM – 10PM = Family Guy

* signifies a new series