WWE issued a survey about their planned WWE Network launch in 2012 to select fans on their mailing list yesterday. Based on the following verbiage from the survey, one of the plans on board for the network (and this can ALWAYS change) is to move major WWE PPV events to the Network, where they would air, including Wrestlemania.
Yes, Wrestlemania.
The verbiage from the survey, which also features a number of other potential WWE network programming choices, reads:
"Imagine a 24-hour cable network that was run by The WWE. It featured a mix of WWE-made programs, including new shows, repeats of Raw and SmackDown from USA and Syfy and "classic" or "historical" programs featuring shows from different promotions like classic WWE footage, WCW, ECW, NWA, AWA, etc. from years past.
It would have two new weekly WWE live in-ring shows (wrestling), but not SmackDown or Raw.
It would have a daily live in-studio viewer interactive show similar to SportsCenter.
Additionally, this network would include WWE's "classic big 4" pay-per-view events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble to the lineup at no additional cost. Rather than having to pay for them, they would now be specials with the same match quality you're used to seeing on pay-per-view for no additional cost. These 4 events would only be available on The WWE Network.
In addition to The WWE Network, you would receive approximately 30 additional channels including NFL Network, NBA TV, Biography Channel, Fox Business Network and Fuel TV.
How interested would you be in upgrading your service for an additional $7-$12 per month to a tier which would include the WWE Network described above?"
Based on the verbiage, even if the plans don't come to fruition, it's obvious how much importance WWE is putting behind the Network launch. You don't consider taking the biggest money making event in your calendar off PPV and move it to a network (albeit a pay-per-view network) unless you want to do everything in your power to make a splash and show the power of the WWE brand. Such a move of even a few of the major PPV events, much less ALL of the major events would create a massive change in the revenue stream of the company. Such a drastic move will change the direction of the company, forever, to one that creates, owns and distributes their own content, as opposed to one that provides that content for broadcast partners. It's a bold move.
One person I spoke to believed that the timeline of moving PPVs to the Network, if that actually comes to fruition, would be early 2013. It's VERY important to note that nothing is set in stone when it comes to Network plans and the company is just starting to roll out ways to brand, develop and market the Network. Getting clearances is going to be a very big hurdle to leap and there has been discussion of buying another "underperforming" network and re-branding it, as opposed to starting fresh, just for the clearances.
In terms of original programming, they are throwing out a lot of ideas and there's no guarantee any of them will ever make it into production. Here are a few we've heard in the last several weeks -
*The Big Show cooking show we wrote about yesterday is also a potential show for the new Network.
*I am told that a re-tooled version of the Santino Marella comedy pilot was also discussed.
*There's also talk of some sort of "horror-themed" anthology show that would feature one of the spookier characters (Kane, Paul Bearer, Undertaker types) as the anthology host
*There is talk of reviving an animated cartoon that was once in development for Rey Mysterio.
*A WWE "Movie" night featuring WWE Studios productions, potential made for network movies and other films featuring WWE talents that could be acquired. The Movie Night would be "hosted" by a WWE talent or legend.
*Some of the existing Classics on Demand material would transition to the network or be expanded, including the Legends Roundtable and Hall of Fame material.
*The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony and Wrestlemania AXXESS were discussed as potential live broadcasts for the network.
WWE has also reached out to several former creative team members to gauge interest
in working for the company in the Network end of things.
Interestingly, WWE has made no moves towards buying new wrestling libraries of late. I was told that the feeling internally is that it is more important to continue logging and digitizing the current library than it is to acquire new footage currently. Once the footage is completely digitized, it will be far easier to man the network.
It's going to be quite the journey to follow this Network from the conceptualization stage to its official launch, particularly the idea of moving major PPV events in-house as specials. It may be a whole new world in just a few short years.
