Eric Bischoff: "PPV model has changed drastically"

[Testify]

In an interview with Sherdog, Eric Bischoff discussed the current state of the pay-per-view business for pro wrestling and MMA.

"When I was running WCW, when things were operating like a finely tuned machine, 25% of our revenue was from television licensing, 25% from licensing and merchandising, 25% from live events and 25% from pay-per-views. It was a four-legged table. I don’t know what those percentages are anymore.

I do know that pay-per-view has gotten more competitive and difficult. I know WWE is feeling it – all you have to do is look at their SEC reports. Pay-per-view is a monster for WWE; I wish I had a fraction of their pay-per-view numbers at TNA. But it’s still trailing off because it’s gotten more competitive.

From what I hear, and I don’t know if this is true or not, UFC’s pay-per-view numbers are beginning to trail off. I think that’s in large part because, like everything else in our culture, people are able to get their entertainment from so many different sources nowadays, that they’re just not reliant on pay-per-view like they used to be. They’re not reliant on television to get their entertainment fix the way they were years ago. So I think the entire model is changing literally under our noses every day."

 

[Nano]

I agree, it's true, nowadays we use sites to see wrestling ppvs for free and that's not always good, I pay all the ppvs because I know that happens but it's really bad to see that happening imo

 

[Leo C]

Yeah, streaming PPVs is what many people do these days.

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

I agree, it's true, nowadays we use sites to see wrestling ppvs for free and that's not always good, I pay all the ppvs because I know that happens but it's really bad to see that happening imo

You are also not American. What do you pay for PPVs? 10-15? Over here it is 50 bones a pop

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

Wait you are Muricans? What a goody two shoes

 

[Nano]

You are also not American. What do you pay for PPVs? 10-15? Over here it is 50 bones a pop

I'm from Boston so that makes me American ity:

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

Already realized that ity2:

 

[Nano]

Already realized that ity2:

So... You're american too?

 

[Snowman1]

It's not really a streaming issue (although that is an issue), it's that why would I want to pay to see Turning Point when there's bound to be a balls-awesome Sunday Night Football game on? Why would I pay 50 bucks for Sacrifice when I could be out on a date haha? Why would I pay 50 bucks for Victory Road... ever?

Bischoff has a point for once in his life, this PPV model is horrible. Vince once said that he thinks people pitch in (groups of 10 pay $5 each) to pay his exorbitant PPV prices, but it really can't be justified. Charging $50 for a PPV in the days of cheaper entertainment is just silly.

 

[Testify]

It's not really a streaming issue (although that is an issue), it's that why would I want to pay to see Turning Point when there's bound to be a balls-awesome Sunday Night Football game on? Why would I pay 50 bucks for Sacrifice when I could be out on a date haha? Why would I pay 50 bucks for Victory Road... ever?

Bischoff has a point for once in his life, this PPV model is horrible. Vince once said that he thinks people pitch in (groups of 10 pay $5 each) to pay his exorbitant PPV prices, but it really can't be justified. Charging $50 for a PPV in the days of cheaper entertainment is just silly.

+1

That's why this 4 PPVs a year model should a success.

 

[Snowman1]

+1

That's why this 4 PPVs a year model should a success.

It's a great idea in theory, although they really have to ramp up the build... the build to Lockdown left a lot to be desired. Figure the idea was to have like 3 months of build to Slammiversary, and with long-term storytelling they can make it feel like it's worth the $50.

Hey, TNA can do it.

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

So... You're american too?

It needs to be specified that I am American? I'm the All American American of these boards

 

[Nano]

It needs to be specified that I am American? I'm the All American American of these boards

Weed tha people

 

[CrayJ Lee]

I agree with this. I'm a cheap college student so I don't even have cable/satellite in the first place. Even if I did I don't think I'd purchase a PPV since I don't have that much money to purchase one. The quality can be poor with the streams but it works and if you have an HDMI cable like I do you can easily connect it to your TV and watch it on a bigger screen. For me there's no reason to have to pay for it 1:

 

[Roi]

I agree with this. I'm a cheap college student so I don't even have cable/satellite in the first place. Even if I did I don't think I'd purchase a PPV since I don't have that much money to purchase one. The quality can be poor with the streams but it works and if you have an HDMI cable like I do you can easily connect it to your TV and watch it on a bigger screen. For me there's no reason to have to pay for it 1:

You on the TNA section ? :