The WWE Network and WWE's Older Fanbase

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

I was just thinking about that recent thread in WWE current about how only about 20 percent of WWE's audience are kids and the rest of the fanbase is aging. I know older folks who don't use the Internet aren't the majority of the WWE's fanbase, but it got me thinking that with as great as the Network is, there must be some population of fans it wouldn't appeal to AT ALL.

I was just curious if people knew any fans who would be interested in the stuff on WWE Netowrk, but just wouldn't know how to use it or have any interest in using it.

What got me thinking about this is a family friend who played a huge part in getting me as interested in wrestling as I am. I know he would have been big into the 1980s stuff on the network but just coudln't imagine him ever using something like the network. He didn't own a computer or anything like that. He's not alive anymore, but there must be some folks out there like him who'd still be interested in Network content, but have no idea/interest in using the mediums capable of accesing the Network.

Just a thought. Also, curious to know if anyone knows any folks like this.

[Captain & Diet]

Well, I'm 41, grew up with 70s and 80s wrestling and I've been a subscriber since day one. I've said it before in other threads but I think that the Network was the right platform as opposed to an actual channel. I use the video on demand almost every day and I've found some hidden gems as well as renewed some memories.

My dad visits occasionally and I've showed him how to use the service (he's in his late 60s).i think if he wasn't on a fixed income, he'd be a subscriber.

I think the key to getting more people, especially older ones to use the service, is for it to be preloaded like Netflix is on most smart TVs and set top boxes. I think easier access would help improve subs.

[Deleted]

I am no longer 18-35, so I don't matter to anybody.

[willywonka666]

I'm 40, and loved the 80s era of wrestling, and I certainly don't have any trouble using a computer-I would just like more of the older stuff.

I'll have to read that article, because I don't watch modern day "Sports entertainment" anymore and I thought they were trying to appeal to 8 year olds. I can't imagine forcing myself to watch it today.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Mar 19, 2015 21:01:27 GMT -5 Captain & Diet said:

Well, I'm 41, grew up with 70s and 80s wrestling and I've been a subscriber since day one. I've said it before in other threads but I think that the Network was the right platform as opposed to an actual channel. I use the video on demand almost every day and I've found some hidden gems as well as renewed some memories.

My dad visits occasionally and I've showed him how to use the service (he's in his late 60s).i think if he wasn't on a fixed income, he'd be a subscriber.

I think the key to getting more people, especially older ones to use the service, is for it to be preloaded like Netflix is on most smart TVs and set top boxes. I think easier access would help improve subs.

Some great points here. The preloading thing makes a lot of sense. Just some older folks I've met I can't imagine them having the patience of trouble shooting some of these things. I mean the ones who have a tough time using a service like this when everything works PERFECT. It can get annoying for someone who is tech savvy when there is a bug so someone who may be hesitant to use the service to begin with may have a much tougher time.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I'm the tech director at a public library and my experience is that you can teach most older people (70+) to use something like this when they're willing to learn, but it's almost like they have trouble learning intuitively, so they have to memorize the steps. In other words, I can teach Grandma Marge to double tap the icon, tap on "All Shows", then tap on the WWE logo, then scroll to find the show she wants and tap on it. But, if the interface ever changes due to an update or there's a bug that keeps her from being able to access the content via the memorized path, she is likely to just throw her hands up or have to have someone reteach her how to use it.

Granted, there are exceptions to the rule in both directions. I've known 70+ year old ladies who took to accessing digital content like it was nothing and 50 year old men who would beat their screen up just trying to get the app to open.

[Stuart Baggs The Brand]

Not wanting to go off on a tangent but it kinda hit me today that I might be exactly who the WWE Network is really aimed at.

I consider myself a long time, avid viewer. I would say that I have loved wrestling since I first watched it at the age of four and I've stuck with it, even through some of the more testing years. But my interest has dropped off and I certainly don't buy PPV anymore. I used to watch religiously but now don't really care if I miss a Raw here or a Smackdown there.

I do however, have a strong sense of nostalgia and love for the times gone by. I enjoy the likes of Countdown, 24 etc and I'm not really too bothered if my £6.60 goes out every month or not. I've become a "meh, whatever" viewer and by launching the network they've guaranteed themselves a steady, albeit low amount of my money per month. Under the old system they'd have got nothing because I wasn't interested enough to order a PPV. Now I'm happy enough to have the network and sit and watch ten '96 Raws in an afternoon and occasionally check out NXT.

I subscribed out of excitement, I remain a subscriber out of sheer indifference and a void in my life that means I'm often bored.

[Stuart Baggs The Brand]

Now to bring myself back on point somewhat, my old Xbox is at my parents house and my Dad has mastered the technology and I regularly drop by to find him watching Tuesday Night Titans or an 80's PPV.