ECW signs contract extension

[Montana]

The ECW brand is going to be sticking around after all. WWE just sent out the following press release:

SCI FI CHANNEL REUPS WWE®’S ECW® THROUGH 2008

New York, N.Y., October 23, 2007 - SCI FI Channel and World Wrestling Entertainment® today announced that the hit program, ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling®, will continue on the network through 2008.

WWE is also the producer of the No. 1 weekly basic cable TV series, “Monday Night RAW®â€￾ on USA Network.

This year (Jan-Sept), SCI FI has been the #1 cable network for men ages 18-34 in ECW's Tuesday 10pm time period.

For more information go to ECW.com http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/ and www.SCIFI.com.

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

 

[ROHisWrestling]

BOOOO!!! I was excited that it might not be on TV anymore...o well, Im done with WWE anyways

 

[This Guy]

Whats intresting about this news is that obviously sci-fi is happy with the product. I'm don't know how big of a viewing audince sci-fi can acctually achieve. I know that Spike TV for example (at least a couple years ago) was only available in x number of homes accross the US and thus the best rating they could hope to achieve was like a 5.0. Yet we know from the past USA network is more available as back in the day when Nitro was pre-empted Raw could sometimes pull in 7's and 8's. If Sci-Fi is capable of at least a 5.0 rating maximum, maybe WWE could look to move Raw to Sci-Fi as well. For starters if it could pull in at least the same number as Raw gets now, you know Sci-Fi would be happy. This would get rid of the problem of USA Network off there back. This could lead to less stress in on the writers and allow them to work more peacefully and perhaps come up with some new audince grabbing material and start that slow climb in the ratings.

Also if Sci-Fi is happy with ECW, I would like them to consider giving them 2 hours as well. I mean ECW does really well with there 1 hour, but with 2 hours, 1) it allows the WWE to create a more balanced roster on all 3 brands and 2) it gives ECW the perspective of being an equal brand to Raw and Smackdown which it currently lacks.

 

[MJ807]

Yeah I'm happy that ECW has resigned with SciFi network because it is one of my favorite wrestling programs currently and I hope like This guy said that they give ECW two hours I would love for them to be able to do that and it would give them much more ability to showcase their roster and make it equal to Raw and Smackdown.

 

[thedeadite]

I never understood the thought of putting a pro wrestling show on a science fiction network. I'm not all that familiar with all that goes on on the sci-fi network (i'm in canada), but sci-fi and pro-wrestling never really went together in my mind. Not that this has anything to do with the topic, just making a statement.

 

[Fatal 55]

This is pretty good news. Hopefull now ECW can push on & get even better as a product. I wouldn't mind 2 hours of it, but to do that first off they seriously need a few new guys to fill up the roster a bit!

 

[the last gunslinger]

not only add depth to their roster but if they were to get two hours...they would alson need to bring at least one more championship....CW or TV???

 

[kevin82593dmk]

before ecw gets anywhere near 2 hours they need more than a world title

 

[Vandy316]

I'm so happy that they resigned but i wished they wouldve gotten 2 hours but they probabaly will with the next contract

 

[btman]

Haha wooooot... More John Morrison!

 

[Fatal 55]

not only add depth to their roster but if they were to get two hours...they would alson need to bring at least one more championship....CW or TV???

I actually disagree with that... WWE have way too many title's as it is. That's why most of the certain divisions struggle to get a HIGH number of challangers for the title. That's what is different & fresh about ECW. They have a number of people where only one of them can be champion... not 3! It also doesn't limit guys to "Mid-Card" or "Lower-Card" level... It gives everybody a fair shot such as what your seeing now with 7 diffrent guys over the past month competing for a title shot! Most of their roster!!!

 

[JHar888]

Hurray, we better thank God that ECW might end up lasting. I'm excited, because ECW is by far one of the best wrestling programs ATM, and is really the only show worth watching besides TNA. Maybe this will lead the WWE into changing plans of combining ECW and SmackDown!...

 

[This Guy]

I actually disagree with that... WWE have way too many title's as it is. That's why most of the certain divisions struggle to get a HIGH number of challangers for the title. That's what is different & fresh about ECW. They have a number of people where only one of them can be champion... not 3! It also doesn't limit guys to "Mid-Card" or "Lower-Card" level... It gives everybody a fair shot such as what your seeing now with 7 diffrent guys over the past month competing for a title shot! Most of their roster!!!

I can see where your thinking there, but thats not really the problem. The problem is, by having all of your Pay Per Views as multibranded it doesn't allow for more then the upper card guys to be viewed. Since multi branded ppvs the WWE Title, World Title & ECW Title has been defended on PPV. Is that nessisary? I don't think it is. Feature matches from all brands is a good idea but we don't need 3 world title matches every ppv. Feature a WWE Title Match from Raw, with perhaps the US Title from Smackdown, Women's Title from Raw as your 3 title matches. Throw in a mid to upper card fued like Finlay vs. Rey from Smackdown. A Balls vs. Miz from ECW, or perhaps a tag match featuring the ECW Champion & World Champion in a tag match against there respective # 1 contenders. Then on the next PPV feature the World Champion title match, maybe have an IC Title match, Tag title match from Smackdown. The real problem is that by only having 6 to 8 matches per ppv, almost half your matches are World Title matches of some sort. This is not nessisary.

Also I'm not saying we need to start handing out more titles though either. But one thing that would definatly help make ECW look equal is equal time on PPV's. When we have an 8 match card its been 4 or even 5 Raw matches, 3 or 2 Smackdown and only 1 ECW Match. On an 8 match card it should be 3 Raw, 3 Smackdown and 2 ECW Matches. I believe this formula should be used for every PPV. I also believe that if they used my above situation as well, Title fueds would have more time to build as you could have a 2 to 3 month build up for a PPV. Thus the fans would probably care a little more too.

 

[vickymania]

now that the extension has been done,how about bringing some good wrestler's on the show..WWE has been neglecting ECW ever since it came back..even the PPV One Night Stand isn't drawing much in the market right now..we all need a revamped ECW..