WWE SmackDown Acquired by TV Azteca

MEXICO CITY, September 18:
TV Azteca has picked up WWE SmackDown, which will air on Azteca 7 beginning October 3, from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

WWE SmackDown, which will feature a roster of stars including
Triple H, Undertaker and Edge, will be broadcast on Friday evenings.

“WWE is excited to be
bringing WWE SmackDown to
millions of TV households in Mexico,” said Shane McMahon, WWE’s executive VP of
global media. “This exclusive agreement demonstrates the strength of our
business relationship with TV Azteca as a key global network partner.”

“We at TV Azteca are
really excited to be the first to bring the successful global spectacle that is
WWE SmackDown to Mexican open
TV beginning October 3 at 10 p.m. on Azteca 7,” said Rodrigo Fernández
Capdevielle, the programming general manager for TV Azteca. “Offering this type
of programming allows us to fulfill our commitment to provide the best on
worldwide television to our Azteca 7 audience. We are convinced that the
amazing product that WWE brings to the table each week on its program will hook
Mexican fans and turn them into huge followers of SmackDown. Azteca Deportes announcers
and wresting experts Carlos Aguilar, Francisco González and Rafael Ayala, will
add their own distinctive style, as they do with great success for several
other sporting events.”

—By Jackie Stewart