LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Despite several years of declining ratings, "WWE Smackdown!" remains UPN's highest rated program and the network wants to keep it around. UPN has exercised its option to renew the Thursday night stalwart.
UPN signed a multi-year agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment back in March, but that deal gave UPN the option of continuing with the "sports entertainment" franchise. For the season, "Smackdown" is averaging 5.26 million viewers. Through the same week in the 2002-03 season, the series was averaging 5.77 million viewers and through the same week in the 2001-02 season, that number was closer to 6.59 million viewers. UPN executives, though, prefer to look at the fact that on television's toughest night, "Smackdown" remains a solid demographic performer even against the "Friends" and "Survivor" juggernauts. Additionally, despite the diminished audiences, the show's profitability remains high in the wake of the March deal, which enabled the network, rather than the WWE, to sell advertising for the program. Charles Mims http://www.the-sandbox.org An algorithm must be seen to be believed. - D. E. Knuth _______________________________________________ Sndbox mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://a8.mewebdns-a8.com/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
