Smackdown & Raw - TV Troubles?

According to Broadcasting & Cable, WWE's Friday Night Smackdown will be leaving the CW network. The primetime wrestling show has been on the network which was formerly UPN for over a decade now. Smackdown will stop airing on CW as of the end of 2007-2008 season.

From Broadcasting& Cable:

Announcing the news late Thursday, WWE said The CW’s “exclusive negotiation period” ended Jan. 31.

“We have been contacted and have been in negotiations with other networks,” the wrestling body added in a statement, although it didn’t say which networks. "We are grateful to [CBS chief] Les Moonves, [The CW chief] Dawn Ostroff and their entire organization for bringing WWE Smackdown to millions of viewers for so many years.”

Smackdown reliably buoyed viewership for UPN and continued to deliver ratings when the CBS-owned network merged with Warner Bros.’ The WB to create The CW. But the high-testosterone hit stood apart from The CW’s more female-targeting programs like Gossip Girl and America’s Next Top Model. (Source)

According to 24Wrestling.com, there's also been major concern over declining Monday Night Raw ratings.

The RAW coming out of the Royal Rumble scored a 3.9 rating, while this past Monday's RAW rating dipped back down to a 3.6. As is the case with RAW's of the past year or so, WWE just can't seem to hold the viewership in the weeks leading up to the next pay-per-view's.

There is still pressure from the USA Network and Bonnie Hammer. The network continues to suggest storylines and other ideas to WWE officials. While WWE depends a lot on pay-per-view being a success and often uses big Superstar returns to push the shows, USA has asked that WWE save some big happenings for RAW. For example, Chris Jericho's big return last year. Basically, USA wants more main event caliber matches and big happenings on RAW to help bring the ratings up.(SOURCE)