FINALLY NEW TV DEAL W/STREAMING AND PPV at a cost (p138)

[KME]

Yeah without going into politics explicitly the whole 'spout any old shit with very little regard for it being true or not' is very popular these days and seems to be a real theme with grifters too.

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

I’m a WCW fan. I endured WCW in the year 2000. I marked for the f***ing Buff vs. Booker match on Raw. I frequently reflect fondly on Hole in One Barry Darsow, the Gambler, and Ralphus. I’m sick in the head for WCW.

But Eric Bischoff’s product in the summer of 1999 was the most abysmal television I’ve ever seen. It makes the lowest of TNA feel like a prestige Vince Gilligan drama. And then he got fired. Why are we still taking him seriously when AEW is by all metrics thriving? Well, all metrics except for beating WWE in the ratings… which is the quixotic quest that led both Bischoff and Russo to make their absolute dumbest decisions in both WCW and TNA.

[markymark]

During his Backstage Report podcast, Sean Ross Sapp confirmed that AEW and FOX have been in discussions for about a month, suggesting that the wheels are already in motion for this new deal. He noted, “They have at least been talking for a month.”

[Hayabusa]

But does Sapp or anyone know if they're negotiating for a FOX deal or FS1 / Tubi? That's a big, nay huge, detail. If AEW got on FOX, the same FOX that Smackdown was on, that is YOOOOGE. AEW could actually have the highest rated show in wrestling if they get a good timeslot and hook viewers. Being on FOX and Max could be an absolute gamechanger for perception/popularity of the brand and finding new fans, thus improving attendances (especially if they also improve their marketing/live events team).

[dbsot]

Oct 7, 2024 9:15:44 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

But does Sapp or anyone know if they're negotiating for a FOX deal or FS1 / Tubi? That's a big, nay huge, detail. If AEW got on FOX, the same FOX that Smackdown was on, that is YOOOOGE. AEW could actually have the highest rated show in wrestling if they get a good timeslot and hook viewers. Being on FOX and Max could be an absolute gamechanger for perception/popularity of the brand and finding new fans, thus improving attendances (especially if they also improve their marketing/live events team).

If they have been negotiating for over a month, then that would confirm FOX's interest. FOX isn't going to go deep into talks unless they really want a property. It could be simply a money and expectations discussion at this point. I am also assuming FOX here and not FS1 or Tubi.

The big thing with a show on FOX would be that TK can't treat it like Rampage or Collision. It has to be treated like an A show. Not only will FOX not tolerate a lesser show, but AEW would need to present its best self to the largest audience. My guess is that this would push Collision into Rampage territory.

[Hayabusa]

Oct 7, 2024 9:34:31 GMT -5 dbsot said:

Oct 7, 2024 9:15:44 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

But does Sapp or anyone know if they're negotiating for a FOX deal or FS1 / Tubi? That's a big, nay huge, detail. If AEW got on FOX, the same FOX that Smackdown was on, that is YOOOOGE. AEW could actually have the highest rated show in wrestling if they get a good timeslot and hook viewers. Being on FOX and Max could be an absolute gamechanger for perception/popularity of the brand and finding new fans, thus improving attendances (especially if they also improve their marketing/live events team).

If they have been negotiating for over a month, then that would confirm FOX's interest. FOX isn't going to go deep into talks unless they really want a property. It could be simply a money and expectations discussion at this point. I am also assuming FOX here and not FS1 or Tubi.

The big thing with a show on FOX would be that TK can't treat it like Rampage or Collision. It has to be treated like an A show. Not only will FOX not tolerate a lesser show, but AEW would need to present its best self to the largest audience. My guess is that this would push Collision into Rampage territory.

Collision becoming AEW's WCWSN somewhere like Center Stage Theatre and booked by a completely different-minded booker, such as JJ, is my dream. Pack up ROH and make Collision the all-encompassing C show with an emphasis on prepping youngsters for the main shows and giving peripheral talents something interesting to do.

The speculation about Shockwave has pointed towards it being a one-hour show, though. It'd seem a bit weird for the B show to be one hour and the C show to be two hours. But both Rampage and Collision are CM Punk-marked brands and also victims of TK's complacency as a booker, so Shockwave would give them a third go at a proper B show.

[CeilingFan]

Oct 7, 2024 9:34:31 GMT -5 dbsot said:

Oct 7, 2024 9:15:44 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

But does Sapp or anyone know if they're negotiating for a FOX deal or FS1 / Tubi? That's a big, nay huge, detail. If AEW got on FOX, the same FOX that Smackdown was on, that is YOOOOGE. AEW could actually have the highest rated show in wrestling if they get a good timeslot and hook viewers. Being on FOX and Max could be an absolute gamechanger for perception/popularity of the brand and finding new fans, thus improving attendances (especially if they also improve their marketing/live events team).

If they have been negotiating for over a month, then that would confirm FOX's interest. FOX isn't going to go deep into talks unless they really want a property. It could be simply a money and expectations discussion at this point. I am also assuming FOX here and not FS1 or Tubi.

The big thing with a show on FOX would be that TK can't treat it like Rampage or Collision. It has to be treated like an A show. Not only will FOX not tolerate a lesser show, but AEW would need to present its best self to the largest audience. My guess is that this would push Collision into Rampage territory.

It might be time for a Brand Split.

[daaave]

If Shockwave was an hour long and also not a B show. That could be really interesting but also brings difficulty. Do Fox want a live show too? If all so then ideally Thursday night where they tape Collision afterward would be perfect.

I quite like the idea of a big hour long show. You can you use it for you biggest match of the week. Like say it was last week, you could devote most of the show to an Okada/Danielson match. Proper build it up and allow it time

[The Captain]

Oct 5, 2024 17:10:29 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

Everyone involved in the wrestling business should be forced to take finance courses so that they don't have to resort to the podcast gifting circuit to pay the bills when their career is done.

Although I get the impression that for some of them, it's as much about clinging onto fame and notoriety as it is making some money.

A lot of athletes are infamously bad with money so that's a good idea for more legitimate sports too.

[Hayabusa]

The scheduling of Dynamite/Collision/Shockwave could be really interesting. WBD is paying a lot of money for Dynamite and Collision. Obviously Dynamite is the main property, but does WBD have the expectation of Collision being a live show most weeks?

So then if Shockwave gets a good timeslot on FOX, how does AEW keep everyone happy? They simply cannot run three separate arenas per week, they're struggling with two. Does Collision become a permanent studio show or Daily's Place if the demand is for it to be live?

IF WBD didn't object to it being taped, then I could see Collision taped after Shockwave (getting the main billing) and ROH taped after Dynamite, with Rampage out of the way by then.

BTW, Smackdown lost roughly 35% of its audience YoY last Friday. That shows how AEW could benefit from being on broadcast TV, there'd be a considerable number of eyes on the product that will never be there on cable.

[EliteFC]

The new deal and potentially being on Fox Network is a great opportunity that TK might take full advantage of and go all in to make AEW even more successful.

The Khan Family didn't NEED profits but TK needed to show he can be profitable. He has done that. I wouldn't be surprised if they are fine with being in the red (losses). That would mean TK has this new TV money plus more to play with (going into red).

Marketing, more talent recruitment, expanding the team to handle the 3 shows and more might be coming.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 7, 2024 9:45:28 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

Oct 7, 2024 9:34:31 GMT -5 dbsot said:

If they have been negotiating for over a month, then that would confirm FOX's interest. FOX isn't going to go deep into talks unless they really want a property. It could be simply a money and expectations discussion at this point. I am also assuming FOX here and not FS1 or Tubi.

The big thing with a show on FOX would be that TK can't treat it like Rampage or Collision. It has to be treated like an A show. Not only will FOX not tolerate a lesser show, but AEW would need to present its best self to the largest audience. My guess is that this would push Collision into Rampage territory.

Collision becoming AEW's WCWSN somewhere like Center Stage Theatre and booked by a completely different-minded booker, such as JJ, is my dream. Pack up ROH and make Collision the all-encompassing C show with an emphasis on prepping youngsters for the main shows and giving peripheral talents something interesting to do.

The speculation about Shockwave has pointed towards it being a one-hour show, though. It'd seem a bit weird for the B show to be one hour and the C show to be two hours. But both Rampage and Collision are CM Punk-marked brands and also victims of TK's complacency as a booker, so Shockwave would give them a third go at a proper B show.

Collision should semi-permanently take a residency in that E-Sports stadium in Texas, it made Collision stand out and it looked great despite the fact it was a smaller venue. Crowds were great too.

[Kalmia]

If Shockwave does end up on a Fox channel, would they be able to have the TBS and TNT titles on there? Would Fox allow advertising of another broadcaster like that? I don't know how strict American TV is with things like that so that's a genuine question.

If it does end up on Fox at a decent time then the show has to be loaded with the top stars. If it's on FS1 then maybe not.

[czwvsroh]

Oct 7, 2024 18:08:07 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

If Shockwave does end up on a Fox channel, would they be able to have the TBS and TNT titles on there? Would Fox allow advertising of another broadcaster like that? I don't know how strict American TV is with things like that so that's a genuine question.

If it does end up on Fox at a decent time then the show has to be loaded with the top stars. If it's on FS1 then maybe not.

To be on fs1 the deal with WBD needs be non exclusive for cable which unlikely

[THE FVNKER]

Oct 7, 2024 16:42:44 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

The scheduling of Dynamite/Collision/Shockwave could be really interesting. WBD is paying a lot of money for Dynamite and Collision. Obviously Dynamite is the main property, but does WBD have the expectation of Collision being a live show most weeks?

So then if Shockwave gets a good timeslot on FOX, how does AEW keep everyone happy? They simply cannot run three separate arenas per week, they're struggling with two. Does Collision become a permanent studio show or Daily's Place if the demand is for it to be live?

IF WBD didn't object to it being taped, then I could see Collision taped after Shockwave (getting the main billing) and ROH taped after Dynamite, with Rampage out of the way by then.

BTW, Smackdown lost roughly 35% of its audience YoY last Friday. That shows how AEW could benefit from being on broadcast TV, there'd be a considerable number of eyes on the product that will never be there on cable.

My personal take is that Collision should absolutely be what Rampage was. At this point, with that slot and the general viewing numbers it only makes sense for it to take a back seat. I’ll also echo what my buddy above me said, they ought to take residency somewhere. AEW has a big enough fan base and caters enough to the right audience for it to do a small arena/big studio every week.

As far as the hypothetical “Shockwave” show.. I’m about as far as you could get from a promoter/network exec/smart person but if I’m Tony Khan I’m making Shockwave different from Dynamite in every way possible. He can still have the final say over booking but I’d give the brunt of the work to Danielson or whoever else. I’d explore formatting it differently, a wildly different aesthetic. Different announce team and probably do a hard roster split (however I wouldn’t ever actually announce that publicly).

At this point, AEW and WWE are competition but only because AEW is #2 by default, and they have the money to pay big contracts. Every other metric is different so I feel like AEW creating their own in-house competition is the best way to get the juices flowing again, and see what really gets over.

[Denny Zen is Cooking™]

Oct 7, 2024 9:51:45 GMT -5 CeilingFan said:

Oct 7, 2024 9:34:31 GMT -5 dbsot said:

If they have been negotiating for over a month, then that would confirm FOX's interest. FOX isn't going to go deep into talks unless they really want a property. It could be simply a money and expectations discussion at this point. I am also assuming FOX here and not FS1 or Tubi.

The big thing with a show on FOX would be that TK can't treat it like Rampage or Collision. It has to be treated like an A show. Not only will FOX not tolerate a lesser show, but AEW would need to present its best self to the largest audience. My guess is that this would push Collision into Rampage territory.

It might be time for a Brand Split.

I think that’s the one thing AEW could do that would ACTUALLY make it start to feel like WWE-lite, personally.

[The Captain]

I still don't think there's anything wrong with a soft split, especially with this big of a roster and only so much TV time a week. Don't like, do a draft or a forced brand warfare PPV and I don't think it really feels like WWE-lite.

[Mozenrath]

I feel like a brand split wouldn't accomplish much since there's been a de facto split for a while now. How many people would be on Rampage or Collision and almost never be on Dynamite?

[jm]

If Shockwave ends up being on FOX, it needs to be an A-show on par with Dynamite. Having it be a B-show on par with Collision won't work on FOX. Maybe on FS1 it'll work, but not FOX network.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Oct 7, 2024 21:05:27 GMT -5 jm said:

If Shockwave ends up being on FOX, it needs to be an A-show on par with Dynamite. Having it be a B-show on par with Collision won't work on FOX. Maybe on FS1 it'll work, but not FOX network.

It has the potential to get high numbers even on FS1 but yeah if they get FOX I'm even seeing if you can get 2 hours because that's a potential 2 million viewers a week if you get close to Smackdown's numbers, plus they'd advertise the hell out of it.