WWE Network never happening?

[taker707]

Exclusive: Major WWE Network Update; Plans Put on Hold, All New Hiring Frozen, More Details
by Nick Paglino
September 06, 2012




WZ has learned today that plans for the WWE Network have been put on hold indefinitely. At this point, the network hasn't a single deal signed with cable providers, and while WWE was considering making the network a pay channel, similar to HBO, internal studies have shown less than 100,000 homes would be willing to pay a monthly fee.

Additionally, WZ has learned through sources close to the head of the HR department and the VP of programming, that all hiring for the network has been frozen. In fact, we have been told any new hires that have been made for the network are in jeopardy of being terminated.

Initially, the launch was pushed to November 12th of this year, then to February of 2013, but as of this writing the network is not going forward at all. We've been told WWE failed to realize what a big onset and investment the network would be, and NBC Universal was going to sell WWE part of its Universal HD channel, but WWE balked and wanted its own network.

Now, with no infrastructure set up at all, we've been told a network would be virtually impossible to create in 6-12 months.

[Pintint]

That's a shame, I was looking forward to seeing some WWE universe themed shows

[Schlomey]

LOL Oprah can do it but Vince can't.







p.s. It is a shame

[Lock Jaw]

They already shot that Legends House show. I am sure it will be released somehow.

[Juan]

LOL Oprah can do it but Vince can't.







p.s. It is a shame

Actually, Oprah is losing tons of money because no one watches her channel.

Also, is WrestleZone a credible source now?

[Savio]

yes

[Emperor Smeat]

Did they ever renew all the contracts that expired with certain cable providers for WWE Classics on Demand?

Remember talks about the majority were to end by the summer but nothing on if they renewed those once the channel got delayed.

Looking back, probably was an unwise idea to rush getting a network done during the same period as preparing the annual Mania hype and show since its stretched them too thin in the end.

[#1-norm-fan]

God, this company is a clusterfuck as far as being organized at times. And apparently it's not just within the TV shows.

[Nicky Fives]

damn..... I was hoping they would hire my Canadian ass.....

[Curd]

Maybe it's all for the greater good, if having the WWE Network would result in WCW-level disorganization. It surprised me when the final NXT "competition" wrapped up sooner than the WWE Network landed a distribution contract.

[Saving Grace]

its not suprising, with a lack of interest from the cable, on demand providers, and satellite providers wanting to carry or sell the product, WWE has or had to come to a retrospectable fall back option. I think the subscription or pay for service channel option like HBO wasn't a bad idea but the problem I think also in lies with advertisers and sponsorship and their lack of interest in the product and its longevity. If i do remember reading correctly at one point the media providers were iffy and not sold on carrying the network because of the 24/7 concept and the lack of available fresh/new concept programming that WWE would or would not be able to put out.

[DLVH84]

How am I not surprised.

[Tom Guycott]

So, providers are willing to carry an average of 3 "24hr music" stations that don't really show music anymore at all, an all food channel, and even a station that shows nothing but reruns or remakes of game shows... but a 27/7 wrestling station is out of the question.

[Lock Jaw]

Because wrestling is fake. :roll:

[Curd]

Maybe it's all for the greater good, if having the WWE Network would result in WCW-level disorganization. It surprised me when the final NXT "competition" wrapped up sooner than the WWE Network landed a distribution contract.

And speaking of WWE becoming more and more like Bischoff-era WCW, I just noticed a tend:
1) Both are PG
2) Both have three-hour shows
3) Both have shown symptoms of wasteful lack of long-term direction among their offerings

PW Torch has an interview with Brad Cain, formerly Lodi of WCW, comparing the 3-hour RAW to the 3-hour Nitro (more filler, less wrestling):
http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/spotlightarticleboxcenter/article_64926.shtml

[JimmyMess]

In all honesty I would have said....



no shit.

How can an entertainment company that is seen by the entertainment world as "the red headed step child" of the family get its own cable network?

On paper to WWE, it sounds great. In reality, just not going to happen.

[dronepool]

I guess it's not 1999 anymore in their eyes.

[Kane Knight]

So, providers are willing to carry an average of 3 "24hr music" stations that don't really show music anymore at all, an all food channel, and even a station that shows nothing but reruns or remakes of game shows... but a 27/7 wrestling station is out of the question.

Most of those channels are sold as part of a package. WWE would need to be in on one of those, which was unlikely to happen considering direction.

Plus, more people probably watch the game shows. :p

[Lock Jaw]

We've been told WWE failed to realize what a big onset and investment the network would be

Also, the above statement is ridiculous, and part of why I am skeptical about this report entirely.

[James Steele]

Come on now, GSN is fucking awesome. I could watch drunken shenanigans on Match Game 79 all day.

[Kane Knight]

Also, the above statement is ridiculous, and part of why I am skeptical about this report entirely.

Yeah, the WWE failing to fully grasp the scope of a non-wrestling project is completely unprecedented.

[Schlomey]

I blame the Internet, in part. They add tons of content to YouTube and tout and every match ever can be found online......plus the fact cable bills are already so high....ya it's just a bad recipe.

[Shisen Kopf]

What the WWE should do is merge with the WE network. During the daytime 12 hours of women's tv and at night, RASSLIN'.

[Droford]

I think that 100,000 number is too low

[Kane Knight]

I blame the Internet, in part. They add tons of content to YouTube and tout and every match ever can be found online......plus the fact cable bills are already so high....ya it's just a bad recipe.

Wait, they actually advertise their matches can be found online?

[Razzamajazz]

meh, i still have wwe on demand from my cable company. it works fine

[Juan]

Following a poor reception to the WWE Network from both cable distributors and consumers alike, WWE's plans for the fledgling channel are being revamped. The project has undergone some major changes behind-the-scenes with the entire concept being revamped, a WWE source told the website.

Cable and satellite-television providers have expressed little to no interest in the wrestling-centric channel due its perceived viability. And while WWE has considered making the network a pay-subscription channel, the internal belief is that it would be extremely difficult to make the venture profitable in today's climate.

Despite these dilemmas, WWE plans to eventually get the project off the ground in some form or fashion. Details are scarce but the company is expected to make an announcement in the future regarding some sort of partnership.

Source: Live Audio Wrestling

[Poit]

WWE already has an infrastructure in place for streaming stuff online. Why can't they just use that and charge people for a subscription to watch this stuff?

[Savio]

They should just have a free ondemand channel

[Kane Knight]

WWE already has an infrastructure in place for streaming stuff online. Why can't they just use that and charge people for a subscription to watch this stuff?

Because Vince wants a media empire and is still stuck on TV as a means to that end?

Just a hunch.

[Taker it Easy]

Nope. Carnies don't launch TV networks but they often tell people they are launching TV networks.

Wave of the future is the internet. WWE should make the entire video library it owns available online via a subscription. An online channel!

Or do it for free and use adverts for revenue.


Also, one more taker poster is this thread and the 2012 might happen.

[Curd]

Come on now, GSN is fucking awesome. I could watch drunken shenanigans on Match Game 79 all day.

Charles O'Reilly is pretty boss. He would have made an ideal Guest Host back in the day.

[#1-norm-fan]

... His name is Charles Nelson Reilly.

[#1-norm-fan]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LZ92yTgKeAQ/SCsQrpEac3I/AAAAAAAAD58/2zrCnjiPU-A/s400/CNR22.jpg

[parkmania]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLnapb-30hA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Kane Knight]

Wave of the future is the internet. WWE should make the entire video library it owns available online via a subscription. An online channel!

Or do it for free and use adverts for revenue.

Or split the difference with a two-tier model. Perhaps quicker access to new material for paid.

[Gertner]

WWE should hop on the Hipster bandwagon and release all their material on vinyl.

[Kane Knight]

WWE should hop on the Hipster bandwagon and release all their material on vinyl.

I think WWE is down with being a bunch of corporate sell-outs.

[Curd]

... His name is Charles Nelson Reilly.

Okay. It was ten years since I watched, so thanks for clarifying. Thank you for taking the time to Photoshop that vintage pic of C.N. Reilly. It is very touching!

[owenbrown]

WWE should hop on the Hipster bandwagon and release all their material on vinyl.

8-track is the wave of the future, get with the times, Gertner

[Kane Knight]

8-track is the wave of the future, get with the times, Gertner

My format is so underground, you've probably never heard of it.

[#1-norm-fan]

Okay. It was ten years since I watched, so thanks for clarifying. Thank you for taking the time to Photoshop that vintage pic of C.N. Reilly. It is very touching!

Oddly enough, I did not photoshop that.