WWE TV-14

[gingerjesus]

Was thinking earlier, if wwe ever went back to TV14, would they lose money from all the children who watch the show and its other PG projects (Scooby Doo or whatever they do) or would It bring back enough older fans for it to be making similar money as they are making now. I don't think it would stop the majority of children watching it even if it wasn't PG, and I'm sure network subscribers and ratings would go back up to a high level. Or is the problem in WWE the writers, as I think they could make the show much better without having to switch back to TV14?

 

[Prince Bálor]

Ratings don't mean squat. The problem lies in WWE's Creative department. They should be looking to improve their booking.

 

[Roadster]

Ratings don't mean squat. The problem lies in WWE's Creative department. They should be looking to improve their booking.

Ratings does mean squat. It allows more creative booking and more room for the creative department to do stuff that wouldn't usually be allowed under a TV-PG rating.

 

[Lackin]

Just had a thought, What if in the future all WWE programming is on the network do they still have to have a rating? In the UK it doesn't matter as we don't have TV ratings (only watershed which is a time where "adult content" can be shown on tv).

But back to the question. The creative team can still push the boundaries without breaking tv ratings.

For example this

 

[Prince Bálor]

Ratings does mean squat. It allows more creative booking and more room for the creative department to do stuff that wouldn't usually be allowed under a TV-PG rating.

TV-14 doesn't quite guarantee better ratings/more drawing. You don't really have to be TV-14 to allow yourself more creative booking and write more compelling storylines.

 

[Roadster]

TV-14 doesn't quite guarantee better ratings/more drawing. You don't really have to be TV-14 to allow yourself more creative booking and write more compelling storylines.

I guess so. But there's less restriction. The WWE refrains from any controversial content, on purpose, so they can keep the good rep. If they were TV-14 they have a larger box to play in. They don't have to worry about sponsor's not liking them, because the sponsors will be those tending to the 14+ audience. I guess WWE does bring these restrictions themselves.

 

[Prince Bálor]

I guess so. But there's less restriction. The WWE refrains from any controversial content, on purpose, so they can keep the good rep. If they were TV-14 they have a larger box to play in. They don't have to worry about sponsor's not liking them, because the sponsors will be those tending to the 14+ audience. I guess WWE does bring these restrictions themselves.

Correct. This is pretty much the answer to why WWE won't go the TV-14 route any time soon.

 

[Majour]

IMO it's down to creative. They could come up with PG storylines that were good, if only they tried. Upping the content to be TV-14 or above doesn't equal better quality.

 

[Stopspot]

Ratings does mean squat. It allows more creative booking and more room for the creative department to do stuff that wouldn't usually be allowed under a TV-PG rating.

Does that equal better tho? No. A more mature rating on TV does not equal better, contrary to what edgy wrestling fans think. Good writing and good boking equals good quality, not edginess.

That TV MA equals better is the biggest misconception in wrestling. The quality of TV in the attitude era wasn't better, it was just as much garbage TV as it is now but it connected with society in another way because society was in another way back then.

 

[The GOAT]

I agree that the rating doesn't immediately guarantee a better product. I've witnessed and enjoyed a ton of excellent storylines that have taken place under the PG banner, and I've also experienced more than just a few shitty ones that have happened under the TV-14 rating as well.

I've also always pointed out to people that most of the angles you saw back when the show was TV-14 could have still happened if it had been PG. Even a lot of things from the Attitude Era could have flown in today's climate - the general attitude of The Rock's character, the epic Rock/HHH feud in 2000, Rikishi and Too Cool, Foley and his three different faces/personas as well as "Mr. Socko", the Undertaker/Kane feud, 95% of the stuff that happened in the undercard, etc. Smackdown back in the day was always rated PG.

That said, I'd still prefer TV-14 because there's nothing that you can do on a PG show that you can't do on a TV-14 show, whereas there ARE things you can do on a TV-14 show that you couldn't (easily) get away with on a PG show. TV-14 doesn't automatically guarantee a better/more creative product, but it does allow less restrictions and more creative freedom.

 

[Trip in the Head]

I bet this whole Ziggler/Lana/Summer thing would be more interesting in TV-14 land. :quimby:

Do I think the ratings would be better? Can't say I would know I guess. I'd still watch. Hooked 4 life baby. :success:

And I kind of wish they could utilize the network to get away with more stuff tbh. But I understand the deals with the tv networks and how much they mean. But RAW airs on USA (or whatever in the UK) and then they edit it down and put it on Hulu. Soooo, why couldn't they air the show "live" on the network first and then cut out the "TV-14" stuff for the network tv airing for the next day? That's just my opinion though. I have no idea how smart that would be business-wise.

 

[Rogue]

The main problem is the fact that most of the executives within the WWE don't recognize it as a wrestling promotion, moreso an entertainment platform. Instead of mainly getting storylines revolving around wrestling we get contrived love affairs, a hit star from a superhero show coming in to help stop a super villain, and a dastardly duo that everyone wants to stop, but won't bring it up unless it pushes an arch forward. The diva's can't get any storylines without them bringing up their superstar boyfriends, or how one is so popular outside of the WWE.

The reason why so many people deem NXT as the WWE's best product is because all of their major storylines revolve around wrestling. Bayley was built up over the past year to finally win the women's title, she earned it. She didn't win it because of mainstream success, or the fact that she just so happened to be dating a bonafide WWE superstar. NXT is good because of how Triple H has wrestling as its forefront. And guess what? It's PG.

The same can be said about ROH, its weekly programming is PG, yet it's still good because it's focused on wrestling.

What I want from a wrestling show is good wrestling, and stories revolving around what's going on within the ring. Oh, and only spending more than two hours watching wrestling for special events. A weekly three hour wrestling show is completely absurd.

 

[Trip in the Head]

or the fact that she just so happened to be dating a bonafide WWE superstar

nope:

 

[The GOAT]

I bet this whole Ziggler/Lana/Summer thing would be more interesting in TV-14 land. :quimby:

Do I think the ratings would be better? Can't say I would know I guess. I'd still watch. Hooked 4 life baby. :success:

And I kind of wish they could utilize the network to get away with more stuff tbh. But I understand the deals with the tv networks and how much they mean. But RAW airs on USA (or whatever in the UK) and then they edit it down and put it on Hulu. Soooo, why couldn't they air the show "live" on the network first and then cut out the "TV-14" stuff for the network tv airing for the next day? That's just my opinion though. I have no idea how smart that would be business-wise.

We'd get to see Rusev get a ton of heat for putting Lana down with a kick, so it certainly would. (Might even get to see a Bra and Panties match between Lana and Summer Rae too, and who wouldn't love that?) However, violence against women is so frowned upon that not even the men can get heat on themselves anymore for something as simple as violating a woman. Not that they haven't gotten away this under the PG banner a few times before - Undertaker tombstoning Vickie Guerrero (and Taker was a face when he did that and Vickie a heel!), CM Punk hitting the GTS on Beth Phoenix, Jericho punching Shawn Michaels' wife Rebecca, etc. - but it just brings too much bad publicity, so those days are done, unfortunately.

Airing Raw live on the Network first would be a disastrous idea, though. USA would never allow WWE to do it and there's the strong chance you lose viewers on television (without really gaining many new subscribers on the Network to balance it out) since spoilers would be readily available on the internet after first airing.

 

[Trip in the Head]

We'd get to see Rusev get a ton of heat for putting Lana down with a kick, so it certainly would. (Might even get to see a Bra and Panties match between Lana and Summer Rae too, and who wouldn't love that?) However, violence against women is so frowned upon that not even the men can get heat on themselves anymore for something as simple as violating a woman. Not that they haven't gotten away this under the PG banner a few times before - Undertaker tombstoning Vickie Guerrero (and Taker was a face when he did that and Vickie a heel!), CM Punk hitting the GTS on Beth Phoenix, Jericho punching Shawn Michaels' wife Rebecca, etc. - but it just brings too much bad publicity, so those days are done, unfortunately.

Airing Raw live on the Network first would be a disastrous idea, though. USA would never allow WWE to do it and there's the strong chance you lose viewers on television (without really gaining many new subscribers on the Network to balance it out) since spoilers would be readily available on the internet after first airing. Also, at what day or time would it play on USA Network then?

Yeah I was thinking more along the lines of the more racy stuff (i.e. bra and panties), but I see your point.

And I dunno. It's just a pipe dream of mine really. I mean how much does the "live" aspect bring people in or really count anymore? There's a delay usually so they can bleep things if need be or whatever. So record the show in it's entirety before hand, showing a TV-14 version on the network (presumably the longer version) hours before or even at the same time it airs on USA.

I'm no business man though. Just a fan.