USA Network Announces Major Shake-Up: New Original Series, WWE Programming Move & Live-Sports Mega-Deals Revealed

USA Network is stepping back into the spotlight this fall with a one-two punch of premium live sports and a long-awaited return to scripted drama that could redefine the cable channel’s 2025 slate. Live sports centerpiece: Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black • NBC Sports will deliver more than 100 hours of Ryder Cup coverage from September 26-28, but Friday’s full tournament day belongs exclusively to USA Network before the action shifts to NBC and Peacock for the weekend finale. Viewers can tune in from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. ET on Friday, with Featured Match streams running concurrently on Peacock and NBCSports.com. • The telecast boasts a record camera count for a Ryder Cup on U.S. soil, plus three drones and TrackMan on every tee, promising shot-by-shot data and immersive visuals fans normally only see at major championships. • USA Network’s Friday window positions the channel as golf’s weekday destination, mirroring its successful Premier League, NASCAR and WWE simulcasts that helped it absorb sports rights after NBCSN shuttered. Scripted comeback: John Grisham’s “The Rainmaker” premieres • Launching August 15, “The Rainmaker” marks USA Network’s first new original drama in four years, adapting Grisham’s legal thriller into a serialized, 10-episode courtroom saga. • The series follows rookie lawyer Rudy Baylor as he uncovers a multimillion-dollar insurance scam, echoing the morally complex, character-driven tone that once defined USA’s “blue-sky” era hits like “Suits” and “White Collar.” • Episodes stream next-day on Peacock, giving cord-cutters a frictionless way to stay current while amplifying NBCUniversal’s cross-platform strategy. Why the dual push matters USA Network’s viewership surged in 2024 on the back of live sports, but industry analysts cautioned that relying solely on event windows leaves ratings valleys mid-week. By pairing tent-pole sports with exclusive scripted IP, the channel can keep audiences engaged seven nights a week, lift its average primetime demo, and create new advertising inventory that isn’t tied to game clocks. How to watch USA Network without cable • Peacock Premium ($5.99/mo) carries a live USA Network feed in most U.S. markets. • Digital MVPDs including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue and Fubo all offer the channel in base packages. • Traditional pay-TV viewers can find USA on Comcast Xfinity (Ch. 823 HD), DirecTV (Ch. 242) and Spectrum (varies by market). What’s next Following “The Rainmaker,” insiders say unscripted series “Race to Survive: New Zealand” will debut in October, while WWE Raw continues its weekly Monday residency through year-end. Expect USA Network to announce additional dramas at January’s Television Critics Association press tour as it rebuilds a balanced lineup of originals and live tent-poles. Key takeaway By landing the Ryder Cup’s exclusive opening-day coverage and reigniting original storytelling with “The Rainmaker,” USA Network is signaling a return to the premium cable conversation—and giving sports fans and drama lovers alike a compelling reason to bookmark the channel this fall.