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It now seems clear that all systems are go to launch the WWE Network in the first quarter of 2014. Its predecessor, WWE's 24/7 Classics On Demand channel will be taken off the airwaves in February. They've also hired Matthew Singerman as their new Executive Vice President of Programming, someone who has vast experience helping new television stations get off the ground. It's also rumoured that the company is trying to steal staff from ESPN to help run their network. Moreover, lots of footage is currently being shot
Nothing is official yet, but obviously Vince McMahon is preparing to pull the trigger on this mammoth undertaking, which is sure to dramatically change the face of the wrestling business if he does indeed go through with his plans. For better or for worse remains to be seen.
The latest crazy rumour on the grapvine that was published by Dave Meltzer in last week's subscriber only Wrestling Observer Newsletter is that serious consideration is being made to air WrestleMania XXX live on the WWE Network:
"There was one source who said that WrestleMania was being strongly talked about (actually one person said it was even in the plans) to be used this year as the lure to get people to sign up, with the idea that they can get a huge amount of sign-ups immediately if people realise they can get Mania for “free” in HD by signing up for $9.95 per month to get Mania and tons of new content instead of $69.95 price single-event price."
It's an obvious brainstorm to guarantee that they maximise their subscription base from day one, but whether they can sell their pay-per-view carriers on the idea is another question. WrestleMania is traditionally one of the most lucrative events of the year for the cable industry and whether they would be willing to take the risk that they would lose money in April by offering the show at such a massive discount in the hope that they would make it up from increased subscription fees over the year as a whole is hard to say.
If I was a betting man, then I'd put my money on the cable companies nixing this suggestion before it gets past the talking stages. More likely is that the show will air on a few week delay, like HBO and Showtime does with their boxing pay-per-view events.