WWE Network Thread

gerrybbadd · 17-05-2014 11:47PM

Loving the MSG House Show that's in the Vault section now. Pre Mania 13 is the time period, a fantastic time in the WWF

rovert · 19-05-2014 03:58PM

WWE's Damage Control press conference is starting now.

beakerjoe · 19-05-2014 04:06PM

rovert wrote: »

WWE's Damage Control press conference is starting now.

Sounds like a new PPV..... better than some of the names they have come up with over the years anyway.

OneEightSeven · 19-05-2014 04:10PM

I thought it was the name for the next PPV until I Googled it.

rovert · 19-05-2014 04:41PM

The conference call has been an embarrassment:

beakerjoe · 19-05-2014 04:45PM

Jesus. Its dropping quicker than Sandows push

Machismo Fan · 19-05-2014 04:45PM

I still have no idea why they felt the need to launch the network. It seemed such a huge needless risk.

rovert · 19-05-2014 04:49PM

beakerjoe wrote: »

Jesus. Its dropping quicker than Sandows push

Barrios the CFO was disconnected and Vince either said **** or shoot - he is said ****.

No new info. Lots of spin and throwing around numbers for the sake of it. They admitted they were disappointed with the TV rights deal. They refused to give a new/current tally of WWE Network subscribers at a time if they were good could really help them damage limitation wise.

jaykhunter · 19-05-2014 04:53PM

Machismo Fan wrote: »

I still have no idea why they felt the need to launch the network. It seemed such a huge needless risk.

Vince hated being at the mercy of PPV providers and TV channels, so to have a fixed income where they get the lion's share of the profits tempted him. Also they have all of this archival footage and WWE 24/7 wasn't doing great, so why not! I'm just shocked they killed off PPVs, but the vast majority wouldn't care for just archival footage.

You're right though, it was a needless risk. Whatever happens PPV and TV deals will always be around.

A Primal Nut · 20-05-2014 09:51AM

Machismo Fan wrote: »

I still have no idea why they felt the need to launch the network. It seemed such a huge needless risk.

They probably should have done it on a step-by-step basis; start with archival footage and all the old ppvs; get an idea of how it does; then slowly start adding a couple of PPVs. You could get plenty of bumps in subscriber numbers along the way and they could always roll back at any point.

Or they could have started at $15, and bring it down to $10 over time; to really make people think they are getting a good deal.

Instead they played all their best hands immediately at the cheapest possible price. Great for their fans, not so great for the shareholders.

A Primal Nut · 20-05-2014 09:52AM

Have we got any more details about the tv rights deal? Like as there been any movement on the length time after the first run that Raw or Smackdown can be re-broadcast online?

robvondoom · 21-05-2014 01:09AM

Anyone else having trouble accessing the Network at the moment? Keep getting a "Media Error: Video not available" message on both the live stream and vault footage.

jaykhunter · 21-05-2014 01:17AM

A Primal Nut wrote: »

Have we got any more details about the tv rights deal? Like as there been any movement on the length time after the first run that Raw or Smackdown can be re-broadcast online?

The conference call was especially shady. Asked how long the deal was, "TV deals typically are not more than a 5 years". IIRC the deal doesn't go into effect until Sept so that'd be the earliest. But I know Hulu have a stake in the rebroadcasting so I'm not sure it will get any quicker.

Rjd2 · 21-05-2014 01:46AM

jaykhunter wrote: »

Vince hated being at the mercy of PPV providers and TV channels, so to have a fixed income where they get the lion's share of the profits tempted him. Also they have all of this archival footage and WWE 24/7 wasn't doing great, so why not! I'm just shocked they killed off PPVs, but the vast majority wouldn't care for just archival footage.

You're right though, it was a needless risk. Whatever happens PPV and TV deals will always be around.

I think MF is right but I also see the temptation behind the Network, but ultimately wrestling is reasonably cold these days so it the Network was always going to struggle.

They needed PPV's on it to sell it as nothing else on it will move serious numbers even the archived stuff and most certainly stuff like Legends house, Nxt etc won't draw a dime.

I don't really see what they can add to make the numbers more attractive really. Its just not the right time for the Network.

jaykhunter · 21-05-2014 02:02AM

Yeah, that's true. I suppose it's best to take the brunt of the costs now as paying for an internet service will only get more widespread as the years go on. WWE won't be any hotter in 1-2 years than now. I can't imagine regular fans wanting to touch more WWE after their 5 hours of RAW/SD.

WWE better do something big for SummerSlam to hook fans into re-subscribing. I expect a huge drop-off. Last year's September-December was absolutely dire.

Rjd2 · 21-05-2014 02:11AM

jaykhunter wrote: »

pread as the years go on. WWE won't be any hotter in 1-2 years than now. I can't imagine regular fans wanting to touch more WWE after their 5 hours of RAW/SD.

And that right their is what will kill them. I probably would consider myself a reasonably hardcore fan but I have more than enough wrestling to watch with Raw and sometimes Smackdown when bored. Then their is PPV'S NXT, and other wrestling stuff like reading wrestling sites, podcasts, etc.

I already subscribe to Netflix where I can gorge on so much different stuff, such as documentaries, old and foreign films and of course TV series.

Only so many hours in the week ultimately and I do like to leave the house now and then:p

Its a nice idea, but one that I don't see ever really taking off as I simply don't think their is enough hardcore interest in this product and of course you are relying on an audience where many will be able to acquire their wrestling needs in other ways.

Machismo Fan · 21-05-2014 02:38AM

It's new content that'll drive subscribers. WWE can't afford to be complacent when it comes to creating interest in PPV's and based off the card for the next show it would appear that they're not trying hard enough.

I get why they put PPV's on the network but I don't think it was a good idea. I would've put four 'B' shows on the network - you can still claim it essentially pays for itself for hardcore fans, it significantly reduces the break even and gives you somewhere to go in the future (adding some more PPV's).

jaykhunter · 21-05-2014 02:53AM

I know there's piracy in wrestling but you can't use that excuse when films and tv have it just as bad (or in music's case, much worse!)

Machismo Fan wrote: »

It's new content that'll drive subscribers [...]I would've put four 'B' shows on the network - you can still claim it essentially pays for itself for hardcore fans, it significantly reduces the break even and gives you somewhere to go in the future (adding some more PPV's).

Yeah, putting all of the ECW and WCW PPVs on it, there's nowhere really left to go (Saturday Night's Main Event, Nitro etc would have much less appeal). Agreed with the B PPVs (Keep the big 4 on PPV). WWE are preparing to be dropped by InDemand (they're budgeting for $0 on PPV next year). If you were in charge, what kind of new content would you put out to drive up subscribers?

Machismo Fan · 21-05-2014 03:04AM

Well by that I meant WWE should make a concerted effort to ensure that the new content they do create (the monthly PPV's) are always something worth buying and that will create buzz and is high quality. If anything it looks like WWE are going the other way and becoming complacent (offering the same top PPV matches two months in a row) because they don't have to earn PPV buys directly. Nobody is going to buy the network for Legends House and WWE Countdown.

jaykhunter · 21-05-2014 03:59AM

Aha. Yeah they're definitely spinning their wheels since Mania. KANE as the #1 contender?! It seems like they don't have enough 'made' wrestlers to vary it, most of their roster are midcarders without storylines who perpetually job to the upper tier guys.

Maybe they'll push NXT as a 3rd brand since it has a different feel and different wrestlers.

Ape Lincoln · 21-05-2014 05:06AM

I would worry that they will stop producing new stuff aside from the weekly tapings and monthly shows that get put up. The Countdown shows were made some time ago, they're not great but stuff like that, Mania Rewind, the Warrior doc help flesh it out.

rovert · 21-05-2014 04:03PM

Wrestlezone is of the belief that WWE Newtwork will launch in the UK the weekend of Summerslam if not a few weeks before that.

Their reports of about Wrestler X having heat in the back with boyz are laughable but their info on the Network has been rock solid.

A Primal Nut · 21-05-2014 05:13PM

As much as I love a lot of the content on there, ultimately if people aren't prepared to pay for the PPVs; and maybe the PPV archive; they aren't going to pay for anything else they can put on the network. There is already more content on tv and the network every week than the vast majority have time to watch; adding more isn't going to make much of a difference (as great as it is for subscribers that they are putting so much effort into it).

Their best hopes are either another Rock or Stone Cold coming from somewhere to raise interest - I don't see it. Or alternatively, they should use the opportunity of the WWE network launching internationally over the next year to get rid of the America-centric nature of WWE. Ultimately, tv rights and subscriber numbers show that they have reached their peak in North America and UK, and unless a huge Austin/Rock like star comes along, there isn't much more room for growth. They need to have more RAWs around the world, more international superstars and more internationally-known celebrities or athletes. They've never really tried hard enough to break into key international markets where there isn't much competition. For the most part their shows are still aimed toward the US market, despite the fact there is no growth left there.

rovert · 21-05-2014 06:03PM

CFO George Barrios told the JPMorgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference today WWE his aware there's a HANDFUL of subscribers watching the Network outside of the States:
https://twitter.com/mookieghana/status/469152096592199680

What a spoofer

seandotcomm · 21-05-2014 06:14PM

jaykhunter wrote: »

Yeah, putting all of the ECW and WCW PPVs on it, there's nowhere really left to go (Saturday Night's Main Event, Nitro etc would have much less appeal).

I figured they were gona wait for 6 months after the launch to announce that all the Episodes of Raw and Smackdown from the Attitude Era would be uploaded. It's really the only thing I can think of apart from PPVs that would get people to renew their subscription after the first 6 months expire

jaykhunter · 22-05-2014 06:33AM

That's a good idea. I think they could've gotten almost the same amount of people subscribing if they just launched it with every WWE PPV, saving WCW and ECW for later. They are in a bind - unlike Netflix, who can get new and old acclaimed shows, new blockbusters etc, WWE have already released the best of what the Network can offer (old PPVs). It's really gonna live & die by the monthly PPVs, as MF and Primal Nut mentioned. I guess they can trot out any aul garbage until SummerSlam (when people's 6month contract expires). I expect a sizeable drop-off.

A Primal Nut · 22-05-2014 11:31AM

I have been checking out the RAW replays page and they seem to be adding about 5 episodes a week. They are up to July 4, 1994 now. If they keep going at the same rate they should be starting the Attitude Era in 7 or 8 months

RainbowPepper · 26-05-2014 07:29PM

This has probably been asked a million times already in the thread, but is anyone else having problems with it buffering every 12 seconds or so with Apple TV? (Using unblock-us) US Netflix is mostly fine and I've no problems on my iPad

Also getting "could not load feed URL" a lot

26-05-2014 11:12PM

Just got his today, so happy! Girlfriend is pissed! Watching the documentary on warrior now, any other recommendations?

Warrior was my hero growin up very emotional stuff watching it

Ape Lincoln · 27-05-2014 01:47AM

RainbowPepper wrote: »

This has probably been asked a million times already in the thread, but is anyone else having problems with it buffering every 12 seconds or so with Apple TV? (Using unblock-us) US Netflix is mostly fine and I've no problems on my iPad

Also getting "could not load feed URL" a lot

I am using a PS3 and it often skips back 10 or 12 seconds.

Sirsok wrote: »

Just got his today, so happy! Girlfriend is pissed! Watching the documentary on warrior now, any other recommendations?

Warrior was my hero growin up very emotional stuff watching it

Depends what you like. If late 80s/early 90s WWF is your bag then all the PPVs and thus all of Warrior's big matches are there. Rick Rude and Randy Savage were his best matches. Watch the abomination that is the Halloween Havoc match with Hulk Hogan from WCW in 1998 if you want your childhood memories ruined.

WWE Network Thread

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