- Just months after Friday Night Smackdown! launched on MyNetworkTV, NewsCorp - who owns the network - announced that due to the bad economy, MyNetworkTV will become a rerun network starting from next fall with the exception of the WWE show. NewsCorp also announced that they will stop programming on Saturday nights leaving that night to their affiliates and owned stations. After the announcement, WWE issued a press release saying that Smackdown! "has a bright future" as it continues to be the number one program on Friday nights on all broadcast television for males under the age of 50. "WWE SmackDown will enter its 10th consecutive year this Fall, attesting to the popularity and longevity of the brand," said the short WWE statement. Smackdown! will be the only original program running on the network once the change takes effect.