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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Jul 9, 2014 11:56:55 GMT -5
Instead of relying on a shrinking PPV market the network will future proof their PPV model. I mean the fact they aren't making a profit right now is because the network was probably expensive to set up and they wanted to fund that cost through the instal subscriber base. Honestly this is what will keep the WWE profitable 5-10 years from now. I just hope they see this instead of being all Wall Street and not seeing the forest through the trees for the short term gain.
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Post by Ron Woodsman aka Shempaholic on Jul 9, 2014 12:15:12 GMT -5
I think the launch of the WWE Network will be looked back on as being way ahead of its time. There's obviously some growing pains but this a big investment in the future, and I believe it will pay off. They just have to weather the storm. At this point if the network goes away like the XFL, I'm done with WWE. I will never pay $60 for a PPV again (a decision I made before the network was announced).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 13:04:18 GMT -5
I seriously doubt it. I think that it will stick around for a while, but I don't see it making them money hand over fist either.
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Post by Captain & Diet on Jul 10, 2014 11:49:40 GMT -5
The network is a really easy way for the WWE to monetize the investments made when all of those tape libraries were purchased. There will be (and are) some growing pains. I remember when Netflix launched. I was an early adopter and every news outlet shit on Netflix saying it would never last and people wouldn't stream video. Netflix helped to kill brick and mortar video rental and now is fairly ubiquitous.
WWE network is way ahead of its time. It is an excellent value for the monthly subscription. While more content is needed and the interface needs some work, so did Netflix in its infancy.
This is an exciting time. I think the original shows are what are going to really sell the Network. Legends House was a hit according to WWE. I think some more Original shows that give a backstage look at the wrestlers lives will be huge. Imagine a week in the life of a superstar. After seeing the second episode of total Divas, I wanted them to follow Fandango around for a week and see what he and his life were like. Who is that guy? Is he really that sleazy?
We all need to be patient. The Network is going to solidify the WWE as an entertainment industry leader.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 12:01:32 GMT -5
I think the WWE know this.
The issue is being on the stock exchange.
They could probably easily weather this storm and take the current loss for future gains, but they are having to tighten up elsewhere to avoid pissing off short sighted stockholders who want results now.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 12:24:31 GMT -5
The comparison to Netflix is comical, in that Netflix took something(DVD rental) that virtually every person/family in the US used and made it more convenient, not to mention the wide variety of different shows/movies that are available on Netflix. The WWE only has wrestling and shows with wrestlers, which about 4M people in the US watch weekly, there's really no comparison to be made.
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Post by Captain & Diet on Jul 10, 2014 16:33:55 GMT -5
The comparison to Netflix is comical, in that Netflix took something(DVD rental) that virtually every person/family in the US used and made it more convenient, not to mention the wide variety of different shows/movies that are available on Netflix. The WWE only has wrestling and shows with wrestlers, which about 4M people in the US watch weekly, there's really no comparison to be made. I see what you're saying as far as the built on audience. But the beauty of this VOD model isn't just what it is but also what it can be. I don't see why the Network can't be the central place where fans of all wrestling go worldwide. WWE could distribute other companies works. There could be licensing agreements for more content. He'll, they could carry every wrestling PPV show and cut out the PPV/distribution systems like Comcast, Dish and DIRECTV. Look at what PWInsider reported today with UFC Fightoass carrying Invicta. Vince can do that, too. He just has to choose to. Hell even Netflix is focusing more on Original content than traditional VOD. This means how we watch TV will change when these over the top services gain more diversity in their content. If Vince is smart, he has to look at it like this. Content is king. If he finds an outstanding show or series that can be shown on the Network and diversify the audience from just wrestling, then he will grow subscribers. Growing subscribers will immerse casual fans I. The products and viewership will grow. There's absolutely opportunity. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2014 16:45:55 GMT -5
The comparison to Netflix is comical, in that Netflix took something(DVD rental) that virtually every person/family in the US used and made it more convenient, not to mention the wide variety of different shows/movies that are available on Netflix. The WWE only has wrestling and shows with wrestlers, which about 4M people in the US watch weekly, there's really no comparison to be made. I see what you're saying as far as the built on audience. But the beauty of this VOD model isn't just what it is but also what it can be. I don't see why the Network can't be the central place where fans of all wrestling go worldwide. WWE could distribute other companies works. There could be licensing agreements for more content. He'll, they could carry every wrestling PPV show and cut out the PPV/distribution systems like Comcast, Dish and DIRECTV. Look at what PWInsider reported today with UFC Fightoass carrying Invicta. Vince can do that, too. He just has to choose to. Hell even Netflix is focusing more on Original content than traditional VOD. This means how we watch TV will change when these over the top services gain more diversity in their content. If Vince is smart, he has to look at it like this. Content is king. If he finds an outstanding show or series that can be shown on the Network and diversify the audience from just wrestling, then he will grow subscribers. Growing subscribers will immerse casual fans I. The products and viewership will grow. There's absolutely opportunity. So basically the WWE gets an even bigger monopoly on pro wrestling by getting rights/licensing deals with other wrestling companies? The WWE Network starts showing series' that have nothing to do with wrestling? Vince's dream of owning all of pro wrestling and branching out into the entertainment business will finally come to fruition! |
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Post by xCompackx on Jul 10, 2014 21:30:00 GMT -5
The comparison to Netflix is comical, in that Netflix took something(DVD rental) that virtually every person/family in the US used and made it more convenient, not to mention the wide variety of different shows/movies that are available on Netflix. The WWE only has wrestling and shows with wrestlers, which about 4M people in the US watch weekly, there's really no comparison to be made. I see what you're saying as far as the built on audience. But the beauty of this VOD model isn't just what it is but also what it can be. I don't see why the Network can't be the central place where fans of all wrestling go worldwide. WWE could distribute other companies works. There could be licensing agreements for more content. He'll, they could carry every wrestling PPV show and cut out the PPV/distribution systems like Comcast, Dish and DIRECTV. Look at what PWInsider reported today with UFC Fightoass carrying Invicta. Vince can do that, too. He just has to choose to. Hell even Netflix is focusing more on Original content than traditional VOD. This means how we watch TV will change when these over the top services gain more diversity in their content. If Vince is smart, he has to look at it like this. Content is king. If he finds an outstanding show or series that can be shown on the Network and diversify the audience from just wrestling, then he will grow subscribers. Growing subscribers will immerse casual fans I. The products and viewership will grow. There's absolutely opportunity. At the same time though, you have to strike the right balance between diversifying and sticking with what you're known for. Remember G4? It started out as a great video gaming channel then turned into Spike-lite that just showed reruns of whatever show they could get for cheap. I have no problem with original content, but the core should still be wrestling if it's going to last. |
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Post by Captain & Diet on Jul 11, 2014 4:52:30 GMT -5
[At the same time though, you have to strike the right balance between diversifying and sticking with what you're known for. Remember G4? It started out as a great video gaming channel then turned into Spike-lite that just showed reruns of whatever show they could get for cheap. I have no problem with original content, but the core should still be wrestling if it's going to last. I see what you're saying but the beauty of the Network with VOD vs. A traditional Network is that you don't have to be locked into re-runs. Before G4 ruined TechTV, almost every show on that Network was an original, in studio show that produced new content every day. It had an extensive online catalog of its own shows, as well as shows that it syndicated and fit with its brand. WWE Network can operate more like TechTV did if it wants to operate profitably. In studio shows like Legends of Wrestling, their documentaries and out of production DVD properties are easy. Reality programming is cheap to produce and that can be farmed out to the usual suspects like MTV studios. There are options here. These are just some ideas off the top of my head that they could do and would garner interest: - 7 days to (insert PPV name) - this show follows a wrestler out of kayfabe for a week before a big PPV match. - Anger management with Dr Shelby (Weekly sitcom) -The 70s (or 80s or any other decade) - think of Turner Classic Movies style show with DVD commentary type analysis. There are so many possibilities, it really is endless. We're just talking wrestling here. Imagine getting a bump by getting the hipsters to buy the network because Community is revived on the Network. Or an action adventure series that has cameos by WWE superstars a la several SyFy series. I think this Network is being run by people way smarter than me. I think they'll make the most of this if they liven up the content but stay the course and hang in there with the vision. |
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Post by "Cane Dewey" Johnson on Jul 11, 2014 5:06:58 GMT -5
The comparison to Netflix is comical, in that Netflix took something(DVD rental) that virtually every person/family in the US used and made it more convenient, not to mention the wide variety of different shows/movies that are available on Netflix. The WWE only has wrestling and shows with wrestlers, which about 4M people in the US watch weekly, there's really no comparison to be made. I see what you're saying as far as the built on audience. But the beauty of this VOD model isn't just what it is but also what it can be. I don't see why the Network can't be the central place where fans of all wrestling go worldwide. WWE could distribute other companies works. There could be licensing agreements for more content. He'll, they could carry every wrestling PPV show and cut out the PPV/distribution systems like Comcast, Dish and DIRECTV. Look at what PWInsider reported today with UFC Fightoass carrying Invicta. Vince can do that, too. He just has to choose to. Hell even Netflix is focusing more on Original content than traditional VOD. This means how we watch TV will change when these over the top services gain more diversity in their content. If Vince is smart, he has to look at it like this. Content is king. If he finds an outstanding show or series that can be shown on the Network and diversify the audience from just wrestling, then he will grow subscribers. Growing subscribers will immerse casual fans I. The products and viewership will grow. There's absolutely opportunity. Content is king, but for non-fans or casual fans, WWE only has one kind of content: wrestling. Netflix offers users a lot of variety, whereas Legends House isn't too far removed from the wrestling business than something like Raw. Which makes you wonder, if content is king, and WWE has tons of content, why the company didn't try to crack a deal with a company like Netflix. "We can provide you with thousands of hours of original content that's already made. You only need to pay us to give it to you to distribute it." Rather than the Network route, whereby the company absorbs a large share of the financial risk in an attempt to control the largest share of possible financial reward. |
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
The Ultimate Arbiter of Right And Wrong
Spent half my life here, God help me
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Jul 11, 2014 6:12:16 GMT -5
Because Vince is always ambitious even when he's wrong.
As for the network, I'd like one pro wrestling hub, bringing in Mexican, Japanese.
Expanding the theme he could work out something with UFC.
Hell, if I had my way, I'd tell them to get some of the better youtubers making content for the network. They have so much there, have people riffing on it. Offical Botchamania and OSW reviews.
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