WWE's flagship programmes Raw and SmackDown are to be shown on terrestrial TV for the first time ever in the UK.

Hot on the heels of a landmark agreement with BT Sport, the U.S. sports entertainment giant has signed a new deal with Channel 5.

The partnership with ViacomCBS's Channel 5 will bring one-hour versions of both Raw and SmackDown to the free-to-air channel.

WWE superstar Roman Reigns (
Image:
WWE)

In addition, WWE's British brand has received a huge boost as NXT UK will be broadcast on ViacomCBS's Paramount Network.

It means fans of all ages will be able to watch the likes of Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks and The Fiend in action - without a TV subscription.

WWE left Sky Sports earlier this month - ending a 30-year relationship with BSkyB - and moved to its new home of BT Sport.

Raw now airs on BT Sport every Tuesday at 1am, SmackDown every Saturday at 1am, and NXT every Thursday at 1am.

NXT UK meanwhile is broadcast every Friday at 5pm, while BT Sport has also picked up WWE's monthly pay-per-views.

Now, starting on February 2, Channel 5 will air a one-hour version or Raw every Sunday at 10.30am, and a one-hour edition of SmackDown every Saturday in the same timeslot.

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Meanwhile, NXT UK will be screened on Paramount Network each Wednesday from 12am, and the agreement will also see content available through Channel 5's online streaming service, My5.

Viewers on the online platform will also be able to get full seasons of Total Divas and Miz & Mrs, as well as via Pluto TV in the UK.

WWE content is also now available via on-demand content through the BT Sport App.

NXT UK stars Wolfgang and Joe and Mark Coffey (
Image:
WWE)

Andy Warkman, vice president and general manager of WWE UK & Ireland, said: "Bringing highlights of our flagship programming to free-to-air television for the first time in the UK with Channel 5 is a significant step for the WWE brand, and more great news for our passionate fanbase in the UK."

James Tatam, vice president of commercial, digital and operations for Channel 5, added: "WWE has strong appeal throughout the UK and across generations so we're very excited to be bringing their high-quality entertainment to an even bigger free-to-air audience in the UK."

Some critics had suggested access to WWE programming would narrow and viewing figures fall as a result of the move to BT.

Rival promotion All Elite Wrestling has signed with ITV, which gave its show Dynamite a larger available viewer base than BT provides.

But now more fans than ever before will be able to watch WWE in the UK, whether live on BT, or in the highlight shows on Channel 5.