Post by OGBoardPoster2005 on Apr 2, 2024 17:15:37 GMT -5
I think that's more about how few people had the Bigfoot Channel. On the old TNA board here when the change was announced the majority of the regulars reported they didn't have the channel. Luckily I was one of the few that did.
Its all about your network.
For wrestling context, there is a reason being on NBC was a huge deal for the WWF in the 1980s. No other wrestling program had reached that level since DuMont Network aired it in the 1950s and that channel was on par with a UPN/WB moreso than it was a Fox, but it was still a National network.
What that means is 100% of viewers with a television can access and depending on the year thats millions in the United States. 33 million tuned in to Andre/Hogan II on NBC, no other program has reached that since and it was made possible by a Primetime 8pm slot and having every possible television set in America with it as an option to watch.
Theres a reason WCW was talking to NBC and WWF went to Fox in 1992 for 2 more Main Events. It makes your product look legitimate and allows you the maximum audience.
USA Network and Spike TV are Cable Networks and while they are available these days on basic television packages for cable and streaming, way back when you had some places that didn't have it because you had to buy a package to get one or the other. Some hotels I traveled didn't have USA Network or Spike TV sometimes.
TNA with the jump to Pop TV went to a channel that was available in 67 million TV sets, but Spike is available in 80 million. Right out the gate you lose 13 million viewers, which is far more than what TNA ever did in viewership.
NBC on the other hand, can reach 288 million homes. Thats far more than those two combined.
A lot of people don't understand the gap between networks when it comes to audience reach.
NXT on CW is a big deal for them because its a 3rd tier brand because CW has NBC numbers in potential viewers, thats a lot of opportunity for exposure.
And that makes the gap even larger in wrestling business.