Hulu is no longer streaming certain WWE programming, most notably WWE Friday Night SmackDown, because its streaming rights for the content have expired. This is a common occurrence in the entertainment industry, where streaming rights for shows can vary and are often based on specific contractual agreements.
Key Details of the Change
The departure of WWE Friday Night SmackDown and other related programming from Hulu is a result of the expiration of the platform's licensing agreement. This change primarily affected the availability of new and archived episodes of WWE's flagship shows.
- Expiration Date: Beginning September 25th, WWE programming largely became unavailable on Hulu.
- Specific Impact: The primary show affected was WWE Friday Night SmackDown, which was removed from the platform.
- Remaining Content: It's important to note that some WWE content did remain available on Hulu, indicating that not all WWE-related programming was removed. This suggests that rights agreements can be granular, affecting specific shows or libraries rather than an entire brand.
Here's a quick overview of the status change:
| WWE Content Category | Status Before September 25th | Status After September 25th |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Night SmackDown | Available for streaming | No longer available |
| Most WWE Programming | Generally available | Largely unavailable |
| Select WWE Content | Available | Remains available |
What This Means for Viewers
For fans looking to watch WWE Friday Night SmackDown and other removed WWE content, it means they will need to seek out alternative platforms where the content has secured new or existing streaming rights. The landscape of content distribution continually evolves, with licensing agreements frequently changing hands between streaming services and content providers.
