WWE Touts 500 Episodes Of SmackDown; Making TV History

WWE issued the following press release:

WWE? FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN? MAKES TV HISTORY

Stamford, CT – March 10, 2009 ? WWE? Friday Night SmackDown celebrates its 500th episode on Friday, March 20 at 8PM ET/7PM CT on MyNetworkTV with a theme centered around "SmackDown 500 ? Road to WrestleMania." By accomplishing this in 10 years, SmackDown becomes the fastest weekly episodic to reach this milestone in United States primetime broadcast television history.

Greg Meidel, President of MyNetworkTV stated: "We are thrilled to celebrate this and future milestones with World Wrestling Entertainment?. As demonstrated by the network's continued record breaking 'SmackDown' viewership, the road to the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania is clearly traveling right through MyNetworkTV."

Friday Night SmackDown debuted on August 26, 1999 and has been watched more than 2.6 billion times by viewers in the U.S. Since Friday Night SmackDown joined MyNetworkTV in October 2008, it is the most watched broadcast television program on Friday nights among Males age 50 and younger. SmackDown dominates the 18-49 demographic and has been instrumental in the success of each of the networks that have aired the program.

Friday Night SmackDown can be seen every Friday night at 8PM ET on MyNetworkTV.