Sci Fi to Air Live WWE Raw Episode

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Sci Fi Channel will step into the ring for the live telecast of WWE Monday Night Raw Aug. 28, subbing for sister service and grappling-franchise rights holder USA Network while the characters channel presents the U.S. Open tennis tournament that evening, Sci Fi officials said.

Raw will air on Sci Fi from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. and then reair on USA at 11 p.m., according to USA executives.

Meanwhile, the two companies are negotiating to extend their deal for Sci Fi's Extreme Championship Wrestling series, according to executives close to both companies. The WWE-produced, weekly Tuesday-night series is averaging a 2.3 Nielsen Media Research household rating for Sci Fi.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.