Raw going to 3 hours?

[LKP]

USA Network has talked of wanting Raw to increase to three hours in the fall. The belief is that is guarantees the network one extra hour of very high ratings every week, thus enabling them to maintain their status of being the most watched network on cable television. The thought process being the move is that if Raw starts at 8 p.m. more often, people will get used to tuning into Raw at that time, and it will lead to higher ratings in the second hour in particular.

They also made the suggestion of Steve Austin and Undertaker being regulars on the show, even if they can't wrestle. On the WWE front, they aren't too keen on making Raw a three hour show, every single week. They think this is the last thing they need. Although, if they go through with the move, they'll likely get a rate increase from USA.

I'm not too sure about this whole idea to be honest. Right now, I think the WWE would struggle to be able to fill the three hours with just the Raw brand every monday. But later this year, when there is a possibility this might happen, it could be ok. With a lot of the bigger names like Triple H, HBK and Mr. Kennedy coming back over the course of the next few months, I think they could really make a good go of it.

Opinions?

 

[Truth]

Dont like it. I think Raw could go 3 hours before a PPV every month to further hype it, but 3 hours every week is way too much for them and for us. This doesnt even help out the WWE it only helps USA which is why they want it and Vince really doesnt. It would get boring real quick and I see no point unless brands were to combine. All Raw needs to do is take out crap pointless matches and make there ME longer.

 

[phantomgerald]

nope i don't think Raw needs 3 hours. It'll be way too draggy, especially the shows that are right in between PPVs. I don't even want a Raw show before a PPV as three hours, because to have a RAW and a PPV run the same length would destroy the meaning of a PPV

 

[monkeystyle]

I usually have nothing to do on Monday's as it is so I wouldn't care. I would totally support the idea if it meant longer, better matches, but I know better than that.

But if it starts at 8 that would conflict with Mythbusters and that is totally not cool.

 

[LKP]

True although i think ecw should go to 2 hours.

 

[Y2JFan]

They already spend waaaaaaay too much of the hours they have on re-capping and whores. What would they do with a 3rd hour? Show us credits of everyone working behind the scenes? Maybe some bloopers?

I'm also annoyed that when my DVR is set up to automatically record each episode of RAW that it only allows for 5 minutes past the last hour, when it always goes to at least 7 or 8 minutes past. So if I don't manually set up each recording (which I will inevitably forget sometimes) it will cut off before the end of the final match.
Anway, that really isn't relevent. Sorry.

 

[ROHisWrestling]

Nah, I dont think this is a good idea at all. 3 Hours is way too much for a TV show, if USA wants more ratings then why dont they move ECW and Smackdown! over to USA? That would give them at least another 3-4 million more viewers...

 

[Great One]

No... 3 hours doesn't sound right, I'd maybe go with 2 1/2, but dunno. Anyways, what's this about Austin and Taker being regulars on the show?

 

[the hibee wwe fan]

3 hours would be good but they would need to lose heat and use the jobbers for the first few matches

 

[Nancy Di Loreto]

3 hours would kill RAW. As dodgy as it is already, they just don't have enough good wrestlers to do it. We'd end up seeing 20 minute promos after each match, and that would get boring after a while. It worked in the 90's, but not now...

 

[xtremebadass]

Raw is good where it is, plus if this goes through, I don't think they could get both Taker and Steve on the show every week, especially Austin.

 

[This Guy]

3 hours is a bad idea. WCW had that for awhile for Nitro and they were without a doubt the worst Nitro's ever.

 

[3lions]

It does't really bother me, becuase I tape it (it airs 2-4am in the UK). But I usually get bored during three hour Raw's. I don't see what's wrong with keeping Raw at two hours. Granted, a third hour would increase ratings, but it would also dilute the Raw product.

 

[Viva La Luke]

Baaaaaad Idea i normally drift to sleep sometimes in the 2 hour shows, they could have a 3 hour show every now and then to hype PPV's but everyweek is ridiculous they would have to drop ECW and move the talent over to RAW for this to be successfull.

 

[3lions]

ECW wouldn't have to be dropped at all. Raw already have a large roster and the show would likely feature more promo's, with an extra tag/midcard match or two. ECW only has like ten guys anyway, so it wouldn't make too much difference.