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Post by kingoftheindies on Jan 11, 2023 8:43:13 GMT -5
How does WWE get TV deals in the US with Saudi ownership? LIV Golf hasn’t been able to crack into our markets with media deal…why would Saudi-WWE be able to get it done? Was mentioned last night, most tv stations that would have take LIV golf already have deals with PGA and the inr that doesn't (Fox) is interested in negotiating. And unlike the spring football leagues that are getting deals, LIV golf is competing against PGA rather than working with them... also again golf viewership doesn't hit thr demos networks want Now I do think the sale whoever its to will result in WWE only being with NBC Universal long term but that's a different story.
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Post by David-Arquette was in WCW 2000 on Jan 11, 2023 8:43:23 GMT -5
The die-hard fans that were hero-worshipping and bowing to Vince when all of this started and he was appearing on TV every show will probably not care at all. When Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle United there was a lot of anger, a lot of grumbling, and a lot of tickets still being sold. I'd like to think that most of the people saying they're done with WWE if the Saudis take over genuinely would be, but I doubt it. For a lot of people, their moral outrage only lasts when it doesn't inconvenience them. A football club is different though, they're at the heart of communities and there's no real alternative (other than fans starting their own club from scratch). WWE is similarly a constant in many of our lives but the local connection isn't there and watching other companies is a viable alternative. That said I agree with you. I don't even blame the fans, sports washing is so insidious many won't even be aware of what the issue is. Not should anyone be expected to think about such things watching wrestling/sport. Yeah, like thought, will this have any effects on Money in the Bank being in UK, and what a big deal it is? Probably not, though. It will sell out and be packed, no doubt. What will happen to the tape library? The Saudi PIF would own all that, right? Peacock just license that for streaming?
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salz4life
Grimlock
Prichard is a guy who gets that his job is to service his boss.
Posts: 14,358
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Post by salz4life on Jan 11, 2023 8:48:50 GMT -5
A football club is different though, they're at the heart of communities and there's no real alternative (other than fans starting their own club from scratch). WWE is similarly a constant in many of our lives but the local connection isn't there and watching other companies is a viable alternative. That said I agree with you. I don't even blame the fans, sports washing is so insidious many won't even be aware of what the issue is. Not should anyone be expected to think about such things watching wrestling/sport. Yeah, like thought, will this have any effects on Money in the Bank being in UK, and what a big deal it is? Probably not, though. It will sell out and be packed, no doubt. What will happen to the tape library? The Saudi PIF would own all that, right? Peacock just license that for streaming? The video library is my biggest question. I’m barely watching the current product right now (overall, not just WWE). I watch more old stuff on Peacock than anything else and hope we don’t lose that.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 11, 2023 8:50:11 GMT -5
If this is actually happening today, trading would likely get halted immediately after the bell, so in like...5-10 minutes. I'm still thinking it's a few days, if not longer, away.
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Kalmia
King Koopa
Happy to be here
Posts: 12,531
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Post by Kalmia on Jan 11, 2023 8:50:20 GMT -5
The die-hard fans that were hero-worshipping and bowing to Vince when all of this started and he was appearing on TV every show will probably not care at all. When Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle United there was a lot of anger, a lot of grumbling, and a lot of tickets still being sold. I'd like to think that most of the people saying they're done with WWE if the Saudis take over genuinely would be, but I doubt it. For a lot of people, their moral outrage only lasts when it doesn't inconvenience them. A football club is different though, they're at the heart of communities and there's no real alternative (other than fans starting their own club from scratch). WWE is similarly a constant in many of our lives but the local connection isn't there and watching other companies is a viable alternative. That said I agree with you. I don't even blame the fans, sports washing is so insidious many won't even be aware of what the issue is. Not should anyone be expected to think about such things watching wrestling/sport. A quick Google tells me there are anything between 78 to 94 different football clubs in Newcastle. Admittedly, none of them are on the level of Newcastle United but the smaller clubs will have a larger sense of community about them than a Premier League side ever could. And I'm not criticizing people for continuing to support Newcastle (or WWE) here. It can be difficult to let go of something you've invested in for many years and no matter who/what you're a fan of, you're probably overlooking some shit they've pulled. There isn't a Hollywood Studio/TV company/wrestling promotion/sports team out there that hasn't had some sort of abuse or scandal. You have to compartmentalize things to enjoy anything and each individual needs to decide what is too much for them. I think the number of people who consider Saudi Arabia owning the WWE to be too much is going to be less than we're theorizing, that's all.
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Post by polarbearpete on Jan 11, 2023 8:50:57 GMT -5
How does WWE get TV deals in the US with Saudi ownership? LIV Golf hasn’t been able to crack into our markets with media deal…why would Saudi-WWE be able to get it done? Industry experts have said that LIV didn’t get deals because of the relationships PGA has with the networks. WWE is also a proven commodity versus an upstart golf league. I’m thinking this will also be sold to the public as Vince being in charge of WWE, with the Saudis as investors.
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Post by BorneAgain on Jan 11, 2023 8:54:18 GMT -5
So in the year 2023, WWE is the company with a very ugly public power struggle potentially being sold to awful people while Impact Wrestling is the quietly competent promotion trying to minimize its controversies.
Huh.
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Post by An Dog On An Skateboard on Jan 11, 2023 8:54:38 GMT -5
So the same guy who came out and did a live show two days after 9/11 and bragged about the resilience of the American people took his classic American company, which has been family owned for 3 generations and sold it to the Saudi government is unreal. All this time I've defended Vince's humanism (not that he isn't a scumbag for the sex payments and potential rape stuff) but I always thought he respected his dad and grandfather so much that he would keep the company in the family. Ironically from a company perspective he's Hulk Hogan selling the world title to the Sheik, what a heel turn... See, I don't find it remotely shocking now. There isn't really anything in the west that isn't for sale to some oligarch or another, you have literal parts of entire towns and cities that are now owned by some vast conglomerate or sovereign wealth fund. Sports teams, consumer businesses, everything is fair game, so that WWE would eventually fall to one seems almost inevitable.
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Post by avenger on Jan 11, 2023 8:54:42 GMT -5
We will have confirmation today, one way or another. Whether it be an official announcement from WWE, a major outlet verifying the rumors, or WWE stock trading being suspended. And right now, premarket trading is going on. We won't get confirmation today. IF it's true (I'm hugely skeptical at this stage), there's a whole load of due process that will have to happen. The WWE would have to make an announcement to the NYSE before trading opens (which is 36 minutes away). They'd have to arrange a shareholders meeting to vote on the sale (even if McMahon owns enough shares to vote it outright, it's part of the legal process) Until then, there is the chance of an opportunity for others to make counter offers - and considering they generate half a billion dollars profit a year, there will be. Due diligence (even regimes like Saudi do this) will have to take place. The deal will need to be rubber stamped by the government (usually a formality, but government takes as long as it takes, and usually doesn't mean always) I'm skeptical because JP Morgan were only instructed to find a buyer when McMahon returned as Chairman *last week*, these things rarely get done in a handful of days.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 11, 2023 8:58:38 GMT -5
We will have confirmation today, one way or another. Whether it be an official announcement from WWE, a major outlet verifying the rumors, or WWE stock trading being suspended. And right now, premarket trading is going on. We won't get confirmation today. IF it's true (I'm hugely skeptical at this stage), there's a whole load of due process that will have to happen. The WWE would have to make an announcement to the NYSE before trading opens (which is 36 minutes away). They'd have to arrange a shareholders meeting to vote on the sale (even if McMahon owns enough shares to vote it outright, it's part of the legal process) Until then, there is the chance of an opportunity for others to make counter offers - and considering they generate half a billion dollars profit a year, there will be. Due diligence (even regimes like Saudi do this) will have to take place. The deal will need to be rubber stamped by the government (usually a formality, but government takes as long as it takes, and usually doesn't mean always) I'm skeptical because JP Morgan were only instructed to find a buyer when McMahon returned as Chairman *last week*, these things rarely get done in a handful of days. The Saudis have money in JP Morgan, could be the reason they're the bank involved. Not disputing anything else you're saying, but it's likely Vince had this going prior to his return.
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Mochi Lone Wolf
Fry's dog Seymour
Development through Destruction.
Posts: 24,153
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Post by Mochi Lone Wolf on Jan 11, 2023 8:59:17 GMT -5
Theoretically, the deal would be so lucrative that it could weather the storm of any initial sponsor backlash that could come. Exactly. The only thing that can truly hurt WWE is its TV audience abandoning it. I've no doubt some will, but I suspect it wouldn't be anything but blind optimism to expect the overwhelming majority of the fanbase that have stuck with the company through thick and thin and still worship Vince to suddenly grow a conscience. If that does happen, it'll be less about who's funding them and more about people remembering how much a Vince-run WWE sucks.
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Post by Rolent Tex on Jan 11, 2023 9:00:13 GMT -5
We will have confirmation today, one way or another. Whether it be an official announcement from WWE, a major outlet verifying the rumors, or WWE stock trading being suspended. And right now, premarket trading is going on. We won't get confirmation today. IF it's true (I'm hugely skeptical at this stage), there's a whole load of due process that will have to happen. The WWE would have to make an announcement to the NYSE before trading opens (which is 36 minutes away). They'd have to arrange a shareholders meeting to vote on the sale (even if McMahon owns enough shares to vote it outright, it's part of the legal process) Until then, there is the chance of an opportunity for others to make counter offers - and considering they generate half a billion dollars profit a year, there will be. Due diligence (even regimes like Saudi do this) will have to take place. The deal will need to be rubber stamped by the government (usually a formality, but government takes as long as it takes, and usually doesn't mean always) I'm skeptical because JP Morgan were only instructed to find a buyer when McMahon returned as Chairman *last week*, these things rarely get done in a handful of days. You’re right on the steps that need to be taken but I doubt Vince didn’t have this plan in motion the second he “retired”. You damn well know this guy was working the phones to have his plan in order. It’s the only reason he strong armed his way back into power. He probably already has a handshake deal with the Saudis to stay in full control if/when the sale goes through. He knows these days he won’t stand a chance if a US company buys it but a morally bankrupt foreign government with tons of cash?
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 11, 2023 9:00:59 GMT -5
I'm of two minds here - the way this is worded "specifically in this moment" feels kind of like he knows more than he's letting on, but it also suggests that it's not happening imminently. He's apparently buddies with Nick Khan, so who knows.
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Post by stoptheclocks on Jan 11, 2023 9:03:58 GMT -5
There are some really wild takes in this thread. Up there with mass murderers ffs! Can we not just settle on him being a bad guy? And also, how is firing his (incredibly wealthy) children worse than allegations of sexual assault/harrassment? I'm pretty sure the post you're quoting there is specifically saying that he isn't up their with mass murderers actually. I was pretty specific about not exaggerating because I know he isn't. Firing his children is not worse than sexual assualt/harassment. Thats more words you're putting in my mouth. Idk how you got my post so wrong when I worded it very carefully, but considering your post got likes I apparently failed. Yours wasn't the only post saying a similar thing, so I wasn't neccesarily singling you out. But to break it down, saying 'This puts Vince in a high tier of evil' in relation to him 'discarding' his children did suggest you thought that was a particular bad crime for him to commit. And clarifying that you don't think he's up there with war criminals or mass murderers - it does make it sound to me at least like you think he'd be on a par with regular old murderers, for example.
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Mochi Lone Wolf
Fry's dog Seymour
Development through Destruction.
Posts: 24,153
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Post by Mochi Lone Wolf on Jan 11, 2023 9:04:04 GMT -5
Welp, if Ariel's saying this, that makes me think it's genuinely not a done deal. Resume your normal activities, gang. When it comes to WWE, Helwani could tell me the sky is blue and I'd have to look outside to make sure it isn't falling down on our heads. This is a dude who created a "best British wrestlers" list that had a ton of current WWE guys and no Billy Robinson.
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Post by cassonova on Jan 11, 2023 9:04:55 GMT -5
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com @seanrosssapp There have been multiple wrestlers who have told me they'd leave WWE if the company ends up being Saudi Arabia-led. I'll have more on FightfulSelect.com today, as well as List & Ya Boy at 3 PM EST. Wait and see how many wrestlers actually do leave by their own choice if the Saudi thing is confirmed. I don't really see many leaving outside of those with ties to things KSA deems illegal. So mostly Sami, Ali, and possibly anyone on the LGBTQ front.
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Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Jan 11, 2023 9:06:33 GMT -5
Welp, if Ariel's saying this, that makes me think it's genuinely not a done deal. Resume your normal activities, gang. When it comes to WWE, Helwani could tell me the sky is blue and I'd have to look outside to make sure it isn't falling down on our heads. This is a dude who created a "best British wrestlers" list that had a ton of current WWE guys and no Billy Robinson. Yeah, I edited my post since, I think he knows more than he's letting on but nothing's confirmed. He may not know a lot about British wrestling, but he knows a lot about the actual combat sports business. He works for BTSport that has a relationship with WWE and he's buddies with Nick. He's more connected than some of the folks reporting on this stuff already.
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Post by Denny Zen is Cooking™ on Jan 11, 2023 9:07:42 GMT -5
Part of me wonders if this sale is legitimately on the table, but the WWE PR folks floated it out there a bit early just to gauge public backlash.
Public backlash being what it has been (this was covered on my local news this morning, even), I won’t be surprised if/when this deal doesn’t end up actually happening.
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john84
Fry's dog Seymour
Proud Father of 3 :)
Posts: 24,299
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Post by john84 on Jan 11, 2023 9:07:50 GMT -5
Wait and see how many wrestlers actually do leave by their own choice if the Saudi thing is confirmed. I don't really see many leaving outside of those with ties to things KSA deems illegal. So mostly Sami, Ali, and possibly anyone on the LGBTQ front. Yeah, I'm not expecting many to leave either outside the names you and others have mentioned. At least in the short term.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Jan 11, 2023 9:07:54 GMT -5
How does WWE get TV deals in the US with Saudi ownership? LIV Golf hasn’t been able to crack into our markets with media deal…why would Saudi-WWE be able to get it done? As has been explained, most US broadcasters already have pre-existing deals with the PGA. That’s probably a more likely reason than any. Basically, yeah. It would be like if the Saudis weren't planning on buying WWE but made their own company, hoarded a bunch of talents and then tried to get on TV. No network would accept them because WWE has the brand and any other station wouldn't want to be the channel that accepted Saudi money. Which is why you go ahead and get a team or company that already has these deals in place i.e. Newcastle or WWE
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