ROH reportedly drawing similar ratings to TNA in Sinclair Broadcasting's markets
by Keith Harris on Nov 13, 2011 1:33 PM EST
in Ring of Honor
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Good news for Ring Of Honor Wrestling fans, it seems like their new television show on Sinclair Broadcasting affiliates has been an initial ratings success. Dave Meltzer reported in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that ROH's TV show is drawing similar ratings to TNA in (at least some of) the markets they air in. If that's true, then I think it's a truly remarkable feat, given the poorer time slots ROH airs in and their lack of mainstream stars, though it also exposes what a shoddy job the Carter family has done at building their Impact Wrestling brand and capitalising on their big name acquisitions.
However, if the history of TNA on Spike TV has taught us anything, then it's that drawing a solid rating to keep the network happy is relatively easy, but turning those viewers into paying customers is an uphill battle. The same was true for ECW when they aired on TNN, as being on a national cable outlet didn't lead to better house show attendance or pay-per-view buy rates. Can ROH succeed where TNA and ECW before them have so far failed?
Early indications aren't good. Last weekend ROH had their first house show in a market (Collinsville, Illinois, near St. Louis) that airs their new television show, but their paid attendance was just 325 fans, probably due to a weak on paper lineup. The last time they ran a show there on July 23rd 2010 they drew a hundred fans more. Of course, you should never overreact to one disappointing number, but advances to their next several house shows in TV markets are also weak.
Moreover, just like talent costs increased when TNA brought in Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam and Mr. Anderson to take WWE on head to head in 2010 in what turned out to be an ill fated Monday Night Massacre, Sinclair Broadcasting are paying the ROH talent much better than former owner Cary Silkin did and are also taking care of their road expenses. Consequently they now need 700 fans per house show to break even, a level that seems impossible to hit in the short term at least. So the question becomes are ROH's ratings good enough for Sinclair Broadcasting to take such a financial hit? We shall see...
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I am going to sound like one of those people on the wrestlezone forum or something: durrr Dave has no sources/makes up news. But sorry I don’t buy this at all.
There was tremendous buzz online for the first show but by week three that had completely died off. With people citing issues with production (typically a table stake for mainstream attention), the joyless presentation and the booking. As bad as IMPACT generally is at least it is glossy, colourful and interesting in new dumb ways on the creative end.
I’m sceptical too, but I think the problem would be more Dave’s sources BSing him than him not having sources or making up news. That said, I feel it’s a mistake to think hardcore fan opinion, which may be a good indicator for house show attendance and iPPV buys, necessarily translates well to TV viewership figures. ROH airs in a lot of traditional wrestling strongholds like the Carolinas, Buffalo and Milwaukee, where there may be a solid audience for a Saturday night wrestling show, even with production problems and a joyless presentation. I think we both agree that ROH could be doing a lot better with the opportunity that their new syndicated TV show brings them.
by Keith Harris on Nov 13, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know if you read the Torch Keith but Bruce Mitchell has a column this week about ROH’s upcoming Carolina show. He is rounding up the group friends he used to go to NWA with – Front Row Section D a group of fans that would troll and heckle wrestlers at shows. ANYWAY one of the points he makes is that as much as people think the Carolinas could be a hotbed for ROH due its preference for technical wrestling but if they think that is the be all and end all for that market then they greatly missing the point. The Carolinas were successful as there was always at least one “blonde” – a charismatic talker/entertainer that would generate interest. Ric Flair being the person most associated with that role. ROH doesnt have that one “blonde.”
I should make the time to read the Torch more often! As I said in my column, there’s a big difference between getting people to passively watch their product for free because they have nothing better to do on a Saturday night and getting those same people to leave their homes and pay money to watch a house show live. I think in the Carolinas they could get a lot of older wrestling fans to watch weekly, but it’s very difficult to get those same fans to come to live events (just look at the demo breakdown of WWE TV shows and compare with their arena attendance). I agree that ROH are severely lacking a few controversial and flashy showmen that come across larger than life and can talk people into the seats.
by Keith Harris on Nov 13, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
That is pretty close… the only one that shows a lot of emotion is Cornette. That could be because he’s been in the game forever.. the only ones with a lot of tv exposure were WGTT.. and let’s face it, they never got over huge because they lacked that extra. I think this has to be looked at it for what it is.. an Indy promotion trying to get big. Everyone is still trying to figure out their craft, and the tv dynamic adds more depth to their character.. and they don’t know how to get that over on to tv. They worked 1 tv match a month..
The old NWA wasn’t glossy either.. and that’s part of ROH’s appeal.. they are the anti establishment, the alternative to the guys that spend like crazy on production but don’t put anything into the true wrestling show. Look at TnA though, they been on tv about 7 years, and they still can’t figure it out. If Meltzer is 50% accurate then ROH is off to a good start & have a ton to build on.
by Rawuncutnxrated on Nov 13, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
ECW's problem was too little too late
By the time they got on TNN, all of the guys who could’ve been big draws for them had already jumped ship
by Jonathan Loesche on Nov 13, 2011 4:40 PM EST reply actions
Well, this just goes to show how bad TNA is failing.
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Nov 13, 2011 5:31 PM EST reply actions
“The same was true for ECW when they aired on TNN, as being on a national cable outlet didn’t lead to better house show attendance or pay-per-view buy rates.”
ECW didn’t get better PPV numbers or house show attendance because the network gave them a crappy timeslot, and never promoted them. TNA doesn’t get better PPV numbers or house show attendance because it’s a crappy company booked by the dumbest people of every era of wrestling other than Verne Gange, and the only reason Gagne isn’t booking TNA is because he’s stuck in a nursing home, I have no doubt Dixie Carter would immediately hand Gagne the book if it weren’t for that home.
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