Could WWE exist Network alone?

[SirLucas]

With rumors circulating that WWE might be leaving USA, if got me thinking maybe not now but in 10 years from now, would it be in the realm of possibility that WWE exists only on the Network?

To compare look at the way TV has evolved to where many people don't watch traditional cable anymore. Netflix had grown from a site that streamed old movies to a Network of original programming like HBO.

Plus w all the PPVS on the Network and other important events, I feel there is no need to subscribe to cable to see raw or smackdown if you are a WWE fun. Especially when all the highlights are uploaded to YouTube as they are happening.

Anyway, will traditional cable render WWE advertising gains on cable obsolete to where raw and sd will be on the network, even if they had to run outside ads during raw and sd?

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

With how much the TV deals are about to prop them up, my hunch is no.

[mcmahonfan85]

no

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Only if the Network becomes like $45,000 a month per subscriber.

[BRAINFADE]

Theoretically yes, but their subscription numbers would have to skyrocket.

[Reflecto]

The WWE seems to know they exist as a loss leader, and the Network is a way to distribute their back catalog...but no one cares about the back catalog without the current product existing.

WWE could only exist as a Network-alone product if WWE decided to cease producing new episodes and solely work on their back catalog- and if that happened, eventually the WWE Network, and WWE, would die out.

[ayumidah]

Yeah considering the wording of the report on the TV deals were if Smackdown got x amount then they could survive without worrying about merch and ticket sales and yada yada, I would imagine they'd never feel comfortable with that because the bulk of their livelihood comes from the TV deals.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

No. But a part of me wishes Vince would try due to the absurdity of it. "I'll show EM, PAL!"

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Not even close. At 2million subscribers they're only just at the level they were under the PPV system, financially, and that's in spite of not paying talent a penny in royalties.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

If they lose TV and go Network-only, then they have the massive uphill battle of an insular product. The TV show serves to sell the streaming service, advertise shows, do all that stuff, and you lose that if you retreat in to your streaming service. There's no way to check out WWE without getting the network, and that opens up too many problems for them to want to deal with.

Besides, they're standing to make nine million an episode on Raw. WWE would need tens of millions of subscribers to make that cost-effective.

[Macho Pichu]

I would love a world where I could stream Raw and Smackdown on the network. I don't think its ever happening, though. Tv is far too important.

[M.A.R.T.Z.]

The only way the WWE will go network-only is if TV is phased-out altogether and we're still potentially years and years away from that finally happening.

[thecrusherwi]

Even if they somehow got every current viewer of Raw to buy the Network at a price that could sustain the company, I suspect their sustainability would be short lived. By putting Raw and Smackdown - their number one new customer acquisition tools - behind a paywall, it's going to severely limit the number of new fans finding their product and becoming devoted followers. Even the hassle of having to create an account to get a free month is too much for many compared to stumbling upon it on their cable package. Your audience would slowly evaporate over time and cause some real problems.

[SirLucas]

I'd be interested to know how many paid subscriptions come from casual fans and channel flippers.

It seems apparently that due hard fans are already subscribers.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2018 0:09:00 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

...but no one cares about the back catalog without the current product existing.

I would care. I would absolutely care.

But I'm part of an incredible unsustainable business model minority, and I know that.

But I'd care. ;p

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

Not if the news on these TV deals and their revenue and profit/loss margins are anything to go by.

[111111]

No, not only is the tv deal a huge source of income it's also a way to advertise things like the network/merch/PPVs etc to a mass audience.

Vince has said in a stockholders meeting that one day he could see raw and Smackdown being on a platform like YouTube but in my opinion there probably a long way off at the moment

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

They theoretically could, but they’d have to completely change their business and really push live events again. To paraphrase Chris Rock, you can do it but I could also steer a car with my feet. Doesn’t mean it’s a good f***ing idea!

[salz4life]

According to a twitter post from Darren Rovell.... Smackdown is heading to Fox in Fall 2019.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

This man is about to sink Millions into the XFL again, lord no...