Meltzer implies that AEW's TV future could be shaky

[Mecca]

[WON] Executive changes in Warner Media and Discovery merger might have a big impact on AEW's TV deals

From Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“One very important thing in the future of AEW come 2023 when negotiations are going on for a new deal is that it looks like Kathleen Finch, the former Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer at Discovery, will be the person put in charge at TBS as part of the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger. So the station will have her vision.

“Dynamite is doing very well, and it's actually the highest-rated thing on the station other than the NBA or other major sports, but wrestling has a stigma. The other would be her view of programming in regard to things like blood and swearing.” - Dave Meltzer

The merger is also expected to lead to a lot of executive layoffs, and the internal landscape of Warner Media TV management is going to change radically.

According to the New York Post:

"Sources told The Post that David Zaslav, new CEO of the combined company — dubbed Warner Bros. Discovery — is expected to take a scalpel to the business in the coming months after he takes the reins on Monday.

Sources said Zaslav is expected to get into the weeds and be very “hands-on” as CEO. This includes finding “cost synergies” of at least $3 billion in 2023, Discovery said in recent months."

[ChitownKnight]

They would be pretty f***ing dumb to get rid of AEW. Even if they do, Khan will find another tv deal easy.

[mystermystery]

Talk about a WCW speedrun.

[Mecca]

Apr 10, 2022 21:57:55 GMT -5 mystermystery said:

Talk about a WCW speedrun.

Odds are, they won't get rid of a product that finishes in the top 3 every time it's on..also discovery shows a ton of low brow shit. There's more an issue that when that deal is up, AEW may get bids from other tv companies and really up what it makes.

[Deleted]

Apr 10, 2022 21:59:04 GMT -5 Mecca said:

Apr 10, 2022 21:57:55 GMT -5 mystermystery said:

Talk about a WCW speedrun.

Odds are, they won't get rid of a product that finishes in the top 3 every time it's on..also discovery shows a ton of low brow shit. There's more an issue that when that deal is up, AEW may get bids from other tv companies and really up what it makes.

Discovery has been THE network of lowbrow trash shit for 20 years now.

If anything, I could see Discovery embracing it and there being a new reality show based around, I dunno, Sammy Guevara or something.

Like Rhodes to the Top, but worse.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'm not really sure he's implying that it's shaky. I think he's just explaining the lay of the land and he's acknowledged that it's too early to tell the effects of the merger on Observer Radio. The new regime could theoretically want nothing to do with wrestling. They could also want to stick to low cost but high ratings shows and AEW gives them more bang for their buck (heh) compared to some of their higher priced ventures so it could play out well for them. All we know now is they're making internal change which was to be expected and who's in charges which honestly doesn't tell us much.

And I love Dave but I think as he places far more stigma on the blood aspect than there should be. The UFC is a hot commodity and that's as if not equally more violent and bloody. And the beauty of wrestling is - it's scripted. I guarantee if the new CEO asked Tony to cut the blood, he would. If it becomes an issue, it won't be any longer. Tony has shown himself to be willing to bend over backwards for Turner because he knows where his bread is buttered.

And like someone else mentioned, I think they'll be fine in 2024. The landscape has changed since their first TV deal. Hell, Turner gave them a raise and extension a few months in. Now they're a proven commodity and with new streaming services and less and less high ratings shows on TV, networks are willing to pay a premium for live content like sports/wrestling. All it takes is a second bidder to get things going and I believe there will be. There are just too many players in the market. Look at all the companies grabbing onto properties like the USFL. There is going to be someone looking at the Dynamite numbers and selling an executive on bringing in a weekly top ten product every week. And someone will bite on it.

[Cyno]

The shit that airs on TLC makes pro wrestling look like high culture by comparison. While a big merger like this is going to have a lot of questions attached, I don't think AEW is going to be in any real danger for it. At worst, they find a new TV rights partner.

[knightboat]

Apr 10, 2022 22:00:32 GMT -5 @hedm2005 said:

Apr 10, 2022 21:59:04 GMT -5 Mecca said:

Odds are, they won't get rid of a product that finishes in the top 3 every time it's on..also discovery shows a ton of low brow shit. There's more an issue that when that deal is up, AEW may get bids from other tv companies and really up what it makes.

Discovery has been THE network of lowbrow trash shit for 20 years now.

If anything, I could see Discovery embracing it and there being a new reality show based around, I dunno, Sammy Guevara or something.

Like Rhodes to the Top, but worse.

Rhodes to the bottom and I right guys?

[Mecca]

Apr 10, 2022 22:06:09 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'm not really sure he's implying that it's shaky. I think he's just explaining the lay of the land and he's acknowledged that it's too early to tell the effects of the merger on Observer Radio. The new regime could theoretically want nothing to do with wrestling. They could also want to stick to low cost but high ratings shows and AEW gives them more bang for their buck (heh) compared to some of their higher priced ventures so it could play out well for them. All we know now is they're making internal change which was to be expected and who's in charge which honestly doesn't tell us much.

And I love Dave but I think as he places far more stigma on the blood aspect than there should be. The UFC is a hot commodity and that's as if not equally more violent and bloody. And the beauty of wrestling is - it's scripted. I guarantee if the new CEO asked Tony to cut the blood, he would. If it becomes an issue, it won't be any longer. Tony has shown himself to be willing to bend over backwards for Turner because he knows where his bread is buttered.

And like someone else mentioned, I think they'll be fine in 2024. The landscape has changed since their first TV deal. Hell, Turner gave them a raise and extension a few months in. Now they're a proven commodity and with new streaming services and less and less high ratings shows on TV, networks are willing to pay a premium for live content like sports/wrestling. All it takes is a second bidder to get things going and I believe there will be. There are just too many players in the market. Look at all the companies grabbing onto properties like the USFL. There is going to be someone looking at the Dynamite numbers and selling an executive on bringing in a weekly top ten product every week. And someone will bite on it.

Man discovery shows dr pimple popper, blood should be ok right?

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Apr 10, 2022 22:08:32 GMT -5 Mecca said:

Apr 10, 2022 22:06:09 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'm not really sure he's implying that it's shaky. I think he's just explaining the lay of the land and he's acknowledged that it's too early to tell the effects of the merger on Observer Radio. The new regime could theoretically want nothing to do with wrestling. They could also want to stick to low cost but high ratings shows and AEW gives them more bang for their buck (heh) compared to some of their higher priced ventures so it could play out well for them. All we know now is they're making internal change which was to be expected and who's in charge which honestly doesn't tell us much.

And I love Dave but I think as he places far more stigma on the blood aspect than there should be. The UFC is a hot commodity and that's as if not equally more violent and bloody. And the beauty of wrestling is - it's scripted. I guarantee if the new CEO asked Tony to cut the blood, he would. If it becomes an issue, it won't be any longer. Tony has shown himself to be willing to bend over backwards for Turner because he knows where his bread is buttered.

And like someone else mentioned, I think they'll be fine in 2024. The landscape has changed since their first TV deal. Hell, Turner gave them a raise and extension a few months in. Now they're a proven commodity and with new streaming services and less and less high ratings shows on TV, networks are willing to pay a premium for live content like sports/wrestling. All it takes is a second bidder to get things going and I believe there will be. There are just too many players in the market. Look at all the companies grabbing onto properties like the USFL. There is going to be someone looking at the Dynamite numbers and selling an executive on bringing in a weekly top ten product every week. And someone will bite on it.

Man discovery shows dr pimple popper, blood should be ok right?

[markymark]

Zaslav is a wrestling fan so AEW should be fine, I noticed also that Steinlauf worked for TNT/TBS when WCW was at his peak.

corporate.discovery.com/leadership/jon-steinlauf/

[jimmyjames]

Well big Dave said a whole lot of nothing there. A lot of maybe's, might's, and could's.

[Cyno]

Apr 10, 2022 22:08:32 GMT -5 Mecca said:

Apr 10, 2022 22:06:09 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'm not really sure he's implying that it's shaky. I think he's just explaining the lay of the land and he's acknowledged that it's too early to tell the effects of the merger on Observer Radio. The new regime could theoretically want nothing to do with wrestling. They could also want to stick to low cost but high ratings shows and AEW gives them more bang for their buck (heh) compared to some of their higher priced ventures so it could play out well for them. All we know now is they're making internal change which was to be expected and who's in charge which honestly doesn't tell us much.

And I love Dave but I think as he places far more stigma on the blood aspect than there should be. The UFC is a hot commodity and that's as if not equally more violent and bloody. And the beauty of wrestling is - it's scripted. I guarantee if the new CEO asked Tony to cut the blood, he would. If it becomes an issue, it won't be any longer. Tony has shown himself to be willing to bend over backwards for Turner because he knows where his bread is buttered.

And like someone else mentioned, I think they'll be fine in 2024. The landscape has changed since their first TV deal. Hell, Turner gave them a raise and extension a few months in. Now they're a proven commodity and with new streaming services and less and less high ratings shows on TV, networks are willing to pay a premium for live content like sports/wrestling. All it takes is a second bidder to get things going and I believe there will be. There are just too many players in the market. Look at all the companies grabbing onto properties like the USFL. There is going to be someone looking at the Dynamite numbers and selling an executive on bringing in a weekly top ten product every week. And someone will bite on it.

Man discovery shows dr pimple popper, blood should be ok right?

Honestly, the commercials I've seen for that show are grosser than anything wrestling but the most outlaw mudshow of backyard fed shit.

[smokinvokoun86]

I think it’s natural to be somewhat concerned with new management. But Discovery is trash city. Pro wrestling is far from being classy television, but it’s very classy in comparison to their other shows.

I do worry about TV executives because throughout the history of TV, some tend to look at a hit show and say to themselves, “Wow, this is a hit show, what can we do to make it even MORE successful” and then they completely change the show, lose its popularity and then get canceled anyway.

I don’t think that will happen here. But you never know.

[Convoy]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t part of the WCW issue at the end that they were costing Turner a lot of money? As opposed to AEW, which is all Khan’s money and is just a partner with Turner on filling the programming slots?

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 10, 2022 22:43:04 GMT -5 Convoy said:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t part of the WCW issue at the end that they were costing Turner a lot of money? As opposed to AEW, which is all Khan’s money and is just a partner with Turner on filling the programming slots?

AEW's also not a money sink regardless, they're gaining profits, the only thing really costing money right now is the video game, which will pay dividends if it goes well anyway

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I don't see this changing at all, if anything, if Tony's looking for an ROH deal, more channel options might have just opened up for him to discuss with this even

But AEW's successful, it's showing its success every week and its growth throughout each year. The worst case scenario here is they don't renew at Warner, and someone else takes them, as someone else would gladly be in the top three on cable on Wednesdays on top of everything else.

WCW folded much more because of their horrific financial follies than the Network change, it's true the new executives didn't really get wrestling, but it was as true that WCW had become a money sink at that point, AEW isn't that, because Khan's much smarter with his funds as far as we've ever seen.

It might change small things, hell I mused that it might mean The Briscoes will be allowed on AEW if that executive's being let go... they mentioned them an awful lot last Wednesday on commentary.

[Deleted]

This thread title is kind of clickbaity.

There’s really no implication that AEW’s future on television might be shaky. There’s kind of an implication that other networks may be in a position to jump in and bid in 2023, particularly if wrestling doesn’t fit into the new “vision” for WarnerMedia, but that would be pretty stupid since AEW is one of its hottest and most successful properties.

[Mecca]

Apr 10, 2022 22:54:48 GMT -5 @mattyphatty said:

This thread title is kind of clickbaity.

There’s really no implication that AEW’s future on television might be shaky. There’s kind of an implication that other networks may be in a position to jump in and bid in 2023, particularly if wrestling doesn’t fit into the new “vision” for WarnerMedia, but that would be pretty stupid since AEW is one of its hottest and most successful properties.

CW got rid of Smackdown when it had by far the highest rating on the channel because it "didn't fit the channels vision" stuff like that does happen.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 10, 2022 22:57:33 GMT -5 Mecca said:

Apr 10, 2022 22:54:48 GMT -5 @mattyphatty said:

This thread title is kind of clickbaity.

There’s really no implication that AEW’s future on television might be shaky. There’s kind of an implication that other networks may be in a position to jump in and bid in 2023, particularly if wrestling doesn’t fit into the new “vision” for WarnerMedia, but that would be pretty stupid since AEW is one of its hottest and most successful properties.

CW got rid of Smackdown when it had by far the highest rating on the channel because it "didn't fit the channels vision" stuff like that does happen.

Yes but it doesn't ALWAYS happen, this is more of a general musing than anything concrete, I would at least say something more like "Meltzer speculates on AEW's TV Future post-merger" than "They may be on shaky ground", that makes it sound worse