WWE Network launch date reportedly pushed back, possibly to fall of 2012
by Geno Mrosko on Jan 11, 2012 7:40 PM EST
in WWE
Email
Print
In one of the least surprising bits of news today, reports have come out from both the site we don't name and the Wrestling Observer that WWE is delaying the launch of its Network from April 1 to either the fall of 2012 or whenever it's ready to roll out, which is certainly no time soon.
We've covered extensively the many issues the company has run into with its ambitious plan to roll out a Network from the ground up in just over three months. The initial idea was to make sure it was ready to hit the same day as WrestleMania 28, which is expected to be the biggest pay-per-view show in the history of pro wrestling.
The problem, of course, is that Vince McMahon was biting off far more than he could chew, as reported by industry insiders with knowledge of television workings. Realistically, there was never any chance that WWE could get clearances and cut distribution deals in such a short period of time. Not only that, they still haven't hired the necessary number of people to even run the channel, let alone a competent executive to head the project.
As stated previously, the issue many of the leaders in the industry are having is that they can see more than six inches in front of their face and this entire ordeal has failure written all over it. Associating yourself with a disaster waiting to happen is a business decision even the simplest of simpletons could recognize as silly.
McMahon is stubborn as a mule and is pushing as hard as possible to make the channel a reality. They still don't have a full slate of shows to even fill 24-hours, at least not as far as original programming goes. Sure, they have enough archival footage to run non-stop, but that's not a big enough selling point to get anyone to purchase a channel.
Other ideas included shifting "B-show" pay-per-views to the Network while simultaneously offering them for pay. While a good idea in theory, this could prove to be a disaster in practice, if it's ever something they would bother to go through with. They have a hard enough time selling those shows now, splitting up the audience this early in the game is a terrible idea that wouldn't see benefits for some time. And with an operating budget reportedly close to $100 million, there's very little room for error.
At the very least, cooler heads seem to have prevailed and the WWE Network will not be launching on April 1. Even if the idea is to launch in the fall, and that's certainly not set in stone at this point, that could prove to be far too soon for a successful channel.
22 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
What would've been the best decision is to just not have a network in the first place.
But this is a close second.
Why?
A WWE Network would be great. The fact that they are having problems getting it started isn’t something I think any wrestling fan should be happy about.
by hfl2013 on Jan 11, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A WWE Network would be expensive as hell.
For a Network to succeed they have to have enough marketability to a broad audience to pull in consistent ratings to justify their enormous price tag, and if networks with much more marketability like the CW, the Oprah Network, and the NFL Network wound up disasters, there’s no reason to expect anything less to happen to the WWE Network, and the death of WWE means for all intents and purposes the death of pro wrestling in North America.
My cable box is filled with channels that cater to very specific markets
And if they can get things worked out and don’t rush into it, like they are thankfully not going to do (or at least not as much), it can be done very successfully.
Most of those channels that cater to very specific markets are owned by big media corporations.
Corporations like Viacom, Buena Vista, GE, and Newscorp can afford to cater to niche markets like that, and also have in their possession a virtually unlimited number of shows they can air on any network for any reason in any order that are guaranteed to do great numbers. WWE doesn’t have that luxury, it’s not going to make money from this network, and there’s in fact a very good chance it’ll lose enough money to go out of business forever.
sigh
I don’t know why I even bother responding to you anymore. You’re so positive it cannot in any way make money, which is so mind numbingly wrong. This isn’t some XFL like venture that is doomed from the start. There is a great opportunity for the WWE to strike some gold here if they do it properly. Whether they do or not remains to be seen, but that’s another story that you don’t seem to care discussing.
This isn’t some XFL like venture that is doomed from the start. There is a great opportunity for the WWE to strike some gold here if they do it properly.
The XFL was great opportunity for WWE to make a lot of money as well. It debuted with a 9.5 Nielsen rating, and came along at a time period where WWE was making more money than ever before.
Whether they do or not remains to be seen
With WWE’s consistent trackrecord of failure with both outside ventures (WWF New York, The XFL, WWE Films, ICOPRO, the magazine line), and lately its trackrecord of failure for its core product (RAW’s rating this week was worse than the NCIS episode that led it in for the second hour), this is no longer a valid defense.
As soon as WWE starts having a consistent trackrecord of success with outside ventures and its core product, I won’t be so pesimistic, but until then, anything less than an expectation for failure is naivete.
And then they XFL ratings went down to 4.6 in the following week and just got worse as the season went on
Because there is no room for another professional football league as any type of extremely profitable business.
If that was even close to true, it would've never gotten the 9.5 at all.
I understand how a WWE network would appeal to you soeley from the standpoint of personal enjoyment, a lot of the stuff WWE will play on the Network will indeed be awesome, but just because something will provide you with personal enjoyment doesn’t justify the fact that it’s a big enough money sinkhole to potentially kill the company forever.
His biggest issue will be...
The carriage fees of .20 per household. This is overpriced compared to other specialized sports networks like the NBA which is at .22. Getting clearance for 40 million homes is a challenge off the bat but in order to break even at 40 million he needs the .20 carriage fee with the budgets they outlined. On top of that nobody seems interested in running the thing. It’s simply overpriced and too costly for an industry that is cutting costs and losing customers as both satellite and cable companies have claimed. He’ll need to drop the price and increase clearances for this to make it through the first year and reportedly he is nowhere near the 40 million they claimed and most are scoffing at the asking price. That’s my .20 cents worth.
I've been wondering what they were charging
Where did you find the .20 cents information. And I agree that is way too high. The key with these networks is to start at a low prince point and increase it over time.
So go forth, my brethren, and proceed to mark the f*ck out
by C. J. Bradford on Jan 11, 2012 9:49 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
This was quoted in the Dec. 19th Observer along with other stations fees, ESPN Classics at .18,and Fox Soccer at .16 and MLB is at .25 but those were set in place before the current economic climate in the industry. WWE could certainly beat soccer in interest but the costs there were probably nowhere in the ballpark of what Vince is wanting to do.
So essentially the WWE needs to plan on substantial losses for the first few years of the network.
I wonder how leveraged they are in order to establish this network.
Everything I have seen says Vince will be okay, Linda spent 50 million on a campaign and is doing it again.
by MVP Raiders on Jan 12, 2012 7:31 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Soccer is more popular than the WWE even in the US.
by MVP Raiders on Jan 12, 2012 7:34 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
soccer as a sport sure
but soccer on tv, not so much. Sure many families have kids that play soccer and some even go to the pro games, but actually watching a channel devoted to soccer, not so much.
by AverageJoeEveryman on Jan 12, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
Going to have to wait then
for WWE Soul Train starring the Funkosaurus
by Buckeye Brawler on Jan 11, 2012 8:19 PM EST reply actions
Can someone please name this unnameable site so I know not to go there and get my computer infected with spyware?
Get a Mac. Never had a problem with it.
On a more postcentric note. I think they should just do the YouTube/Netflix channel type thing.
by 8bitDan on Jan 12, 2012 1:38 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Instead of going to cable...
Why not get the WWE Network started online? Cable is a dying breed anyways, more people are watching entertainment on their computers, or can simply patch it through their TV.
They could still charge a monthly/annual fee for members, the overhead would be much lower, and it would be a good way to test what shows work and don’t work.
Then after a couple years (if they desired) they could go to TV with possibly more leverage with having a solid following. As opposed to being some experimental channel that is building from the ground up.
"Oldest ride, longest line!" - Ric Flair
by Doors Hate MMA Fighters on Jan 12, 2012 10:23 AM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Cageside Seats
Related FanShots on Cageside Seats
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
