WWE Network

[Troy]

As millions of WWE Universe members witnessed while watching WWE Raw SuperShow Monday night, something big is coming to WWE that will change not just the squared circle, but all of entertainment.

It’s the WWE Network. And, as the world learned this week, it’s on its way in 2012. All we know is that it’ll be a brand new day for watching the greatest matches, moments and Superstars in sports-entertainment history.

Stay tuned to WWE programming and WWE.com for more details.

This is the first time that WWE have announced this to the general public rather than just the shareholders. This must mean that WWE are very close to getting this up and running and that there will be no more delays surrounding it. I very much look forward to seeing how popular this network will be since WWE have so much footage in their video library. Some members will remember that a few years ago I made a thread on another forum stating that WWE should create their own network and when I looked into it and listed everything that WWE owned they have more than enough quality programming to fill a 24/7 network.

I can't wait for this to start. Would anyone on the forum actually consider getting this network if it is made available to them in their area?

 

[Andrew]

WWE 24/7

Justin.TV is going to be popular as fuck, all these streaming...

If it's available here, fuck yes I'd so get it. Hopefully we don't need cable but if I ever get Cable... I will get WWE Network.

They'd show classics as well.

 

[Prodigy]

Oh for sure I'm getting this if it comes to the UK. However as it's cable I don't think it will be 24/7

 

[Troy]

By 24/7 I just mean 24/7 WWE or at least stuff that WWE owns like WCW, ECW, WCCW etc. I know that they will replay stuff throughout the day and the week but it will be 100% wrestling channel.

The only country outside the US that I think WWE would consider launching it would be the UK but that would be a long way down the track they need to earn money in the US first.

I am looking forward to what other shows they will review or what new shows they will create for this. Will they bring back something like Byte This and will they create a cartoon for weekend mornings?

 

[Prodigy]

Well I reckon they could just do the thing where they show nothing overnight. Like here in the UK some Sattilite and Cable channels dont run shows all day and instead have programs start at ?PM. IDK if 24/7 would benifit in anyway because not many people are going to be watching in the early hours of the morning and no ones going to want to put commercials on if they aren't getting anything out of it.

Interesting to read that Vince McMahon said he will still keep RAW on the USA Network... Do you think they could still simulcast RAW to the WWE Network?.... as I'm sure USA are going to help run the WWE Network. Also could a success of the Network mean that Vince does take RAW of USA and make it exclusive to WWE Network?

 

[Troy]

RAW and Smackdown are worth more to WWE if they are on other networks. USA Network and SyFy pay WWE tens of millions each year for the right to broadcast RAW and Smackdown on their networks. That won't change but I am sure WWE will manage to work out a deal where they can show a replay later in the week on the WWE Network.

If I was WWE I would just replay everything overnight to fill in time. I am sure that there will be some wrestling fans that would be awake at ridiculous hours so they may as well have something showing all the time. Nothing new will be shown at that time. They can even do what some networks here do where they show advertising in the early hours of the morning, they can show trailers for new DVD releases but make it a thirty minute trailer. Or they can even run ads promoting their other merchandise and wweshop in general.

 

[Prodigy]

IMO it'd kinda seem pointless to have a network without RAW and Smackdown on it live. I'm sure I read that USA are helping WWE to run the network so a RAW simulcast on two channels is an option

 

[Troy]

It wouldn't be worth it for WWE if they couldn't show RAW and Smackdown elsewhere. The revenue from the other networks is one of their biggest revenues so I can't see them ever not showing it on a different network.

There is plenty of footage that WWE can show on their network without requiring RAW or Smackdown. For a start they can start showing Superstars and NXT on television again. Plus the amount of old PPV's, old weekly tv episodes, old dvds and highlight packages WWE own will be more than enough to keep paying customers happy. All they have to do is start showing Attitude Era episodes of RAW and Nitro to keep old school fans happy and they can do something special once a week or even once a fortnight where they show an old PPV on the network in primetime.

 

[The New F'n Show]

Like the idea but can't talk until I know more about the execution.

 

[John McHenry]

I'm sure they'll explore a WWE TV Studios WWE Films shown along with Old School Wrestling. The real story is this a premium cable channel or available in a basic type package I couldn't see paying extra unless I could decide what I'd be watching more like Netflix

 

[Keith]

So I am a bit confused here, what is the difference between this and what they already have with WWE 24/7? I mean the main point of that was to show old wrestling.

I guess if they mix it up with newer stuff and maybe speical documatary/interview programmes it could work, but at the moment I don't see that much of a difference.

 

[Troy]

The big difference is that it is on television rather than over the internet. The other big difference is it isn't just Classics it is current shows as well mixed in with some classic wrestling.