WWE Network shutting down in the US in March

[Evil Vito]

All WWE US streaming moving to NBC Peacock as of March 18

Article breaking the story is behind a paywall but I'm sure more will be coming.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nbcuniversals-peacock-to-become-wwes-exclusive-streaming-home-11611578690

[M-A-G]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Evil Vito]

Since I can't read the article, I will say: I do understand the desire to move live PPV streaming to Peacock. Bigger visibility and all that.

But what of the thousands and thousands of hours of back catalog content they'd uploaded to the Network?

[Evil Vito]

Now confirmed - all back catalog stuff moving to Peacock too. $4.99 a month on top of whatever you pay for Peacock ($4.99 for base, $9.99 for ad-free).

Or if you're a Comcast Xfinity customer like me, you have Peacock for free for the time being.

[drave]

Non-blocked article contents. Format sucks because of how they post. There's a Firefox addin called "bypass paywalls" that is awesome for this.






NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform Peacock has struck a deal for exclusive rights to World Wrestling Entertainment (https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/WWE) Inc. WWE 5.57% (https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/WWE?mod=chiclets) content, the two companies said.


Terms of the pact weren’t disclosed. A person familiar with the deal said it runs five years and is valued at more than $1 billion.
Under the agreement, the WWE will shut down its WWE Network streaming service in the United States in mid-March, and Peacock will license the programming, including the popular “WrestleMania” franchise, for its own platform.



For Peacock, adding WWE content will provide an opportunity to broaden the appeal of the service, which launched in July and has 26 million sign-ups.


“One of the key things we’re trying to do is differentiate ourselves through live events and sports, and this premium content is a cornerstone of our strategy,” said Rick Cordella, Peacock’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer.





‘This premium content is a cornerstone of our strategy’
<small> — Rick Cordella, Peacock’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer</small>
<small>
</small>
<small>
</small>

The WWE Network name will still be used on Peacock for branding purposes.



Besides “WrestleMania,” other content that will move to Peacock starting March 18 include “WWE Icons” and “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions.” Older WWE events will also be archived on the Peacock platform.
While Covid-19 has caused problems for television production and sports, the WWE has managed to not miss a beat. It has been filming shows on closed sets without fans and then adding virtual fans.
Peacock has been looking for content to differentiate the service from other more popular platforms such as Netflix (https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/NFLX) Inc. and Walt Disney (https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/DIS) Co. ’s Disney+ and Hulu.


Although Peacock launched with several original shows, none have broken out. It does have some popular reruns including “The Office” and the western drama “Yellowstone.”



The move to Peacock will be a moneysaver for WWE fans. The WWE Network costs $9.99 a month, while all the same content will be available on Peacock for $4.99 a month and $9.99 for the commercial-free version. Some WWE content will also be available on the free version of Peacock.
The partnership also deepens the ties between the two companies.

NBCUniversal’s USA Network is the television home of WWE shows “Raw” and “NXT.” NBCUniversal is a unit of Comcast Corp. The WWE’s other big show “Smackdown” is on Fox (https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/FOX) Corp.’s Fox network. Episodes of all three shows will be carried on Peacock after their initial runs on USA and Fox.
The deal is the first major move by WWE under its new president and chief revenue officer, Nick Khan, who joined in August from Creative Artists Agency where he was co-head of television.



The WWE Network launched in 2014 and currently has 1.2 million subscribers in the U.S. and another 400,000 around the globe. Growth hasn’t been as strong as the company had hoped, and WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Vince McMahon had previously said a sale of the asset wasn’t out of the question.


Mr. Khan said this agreement with Peacock would be “transformational” for WWE, which will be on a bigger platform but still have control over the content.



The WWE Network will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity abroad.
Resolving the fate of the WWE Network is just one of Mr. Khan’s goals to better position the company for growth. He is also giving priority to the creation of local content around the globe, particularly in India and Latin America.



Alan Gold, a partner at Creative Artist Agency’s advisory and investment Evolution Media, served as an adviser on the deal.

[screech]

The streaming quality on WWE's app is usually horrendous, and I already have Peacock, so I'm actually good with this.

[erickman]

i may have to check out peacock again, i wish they had a deal with the fire tv sticks.

[IC Champion]

I’m in Canada, and it doesn’t appear to be changing here.

[Triple A]

Interesting...

[Triple A]

Now confirmed - all back catalog stuff moving to Peacock too. $4.99 a month on top of whatever you pay for Peacock ($4.99 for base, $9.99 for ad-free).

Where is it confirmed about all catalog stuff? Heard PPVs, Raws, etc. but including other promotions and stuff?

[poopfromweiner dude]

wow rip to the network

[Evil Vito]

Where is it confirmed about all catalog stuff? Heard PPVs, Raws, etc. but including other promotions and stuff?

WWE’s press release mentioned 17,000 hours of content being migrated to Peacock, so that would seem to encompass everything

[M-A-G]

WWE’s press release mentioned 17,000 hours of content being migrated to Peacock, so that would seem to encompass everything

17,000 hours, huh? Well, I suppose that includes WrestleMania 32 but what are they going to do about the remaining 200 hours?

[xrodmuc316]

Peacock is a much better streaming platform than WWE Network. If the dollar amount is true, $200 million a year is a solid increase in profits as well. Assuming the 1.2 million U.S. Subscribers stick for the entire year at the $10 a month price, that's $144 million.

Vince just manufactured an extra $56 million a year from nothing. The guy might be out of touch on what makes great wrestling, but like CM Punk said in 2011, Vince McMahon is going to make money despite himself.

[Jordan]

Insanely good deal for current WWE Network subscribers and WWE. I haven't been a subscriber for a few months but I may consider in March for half price plus Peacock catalogue.

[Seanny One Ball]

WWF now on cockpiss

[xrodmuc316]

Insanely good deal for current WWE Network subscribers and WWE. I haven't been a subscriber for a few months but I may consider in March for half price plus Peacock catalogue.

Peacock's offering is rock solid too. Brooklyn Nine-Nins, Parks and Rec, The Office, Psych, all the Law and Order series, Eureka, Superstore, Friday Night Lights, AP Bio, SNL, just tons of good stuff.

[dronepool]

Fuck, this bugs me because I didn’t wanna sign up for Peacock and need to exaggerate my dislike for the annoying Office show.

[GD]

Good to see you back, dronepool :wave:

Sorry the photo album forum closed down :wavesad:

[slik]

So another big $ deal that leaves them with zero reason to improve the tv product

[Bad News Gertner]

Vince can't hear you. He has a billion dollars plugging his ears.

[dronepool]

Good to see you back, dronepool :wave:

Sorry the photo album forum closed down :wavesad:

I don’t have any use for that forum as of now anyway. Not going out= no pics. Just picture me in blue Old Navy jeans and a black H&M hoodie. 😆

[slik]

Interesting comment I read -- With Peacock paying for the Network none of WWE's primary revenue streams are dependent on fans anymore.

[Bad News Gertner]

It's all television contracts and stuff like the Peacock deal. Been that way for a bit.

[Seanny One Ball]

I'm still imagining dronepool in a metal band shirt with a leather vest over the top.
Probably fingerless gloves and a bunch of jewellery too.
Still Old Navy jeans though.

[Seanny One Ball]

Basically little Tom Savini

[Evil Vito]

The house shows were said to be on its last legs anyway, but it's almost a guarantee that house shows are done forever even post-pandemic.

Shit, they don't even need to go back to having fans ever, not even for TV, but they will because it looks better than just wrestling in front of screens for the rest of time.

[slik]

I think Vince likes the Thunderdome setup bc he has complete control over fan reactions since they pipe them all in.

[slik]

I'm going to miss the RAW after Mania crowd...always the best/most entertaining crowd of the year

[Evil Vito]

Genuinely think a lot of people would try to get out of their contracts if they stay in the Thunderdome post-pandemic.

Losing house shows is whatever, a lot of guys say its their favorite shows to work because they can try new things, but it'd eliminate a lot of the grind on the road.

Would be hard pressed to find many wrestlers OK with the idea of never performing in front of a live audience again, though. A lot of them live for that rush of energy.

[xrodmuc316]

Interesting comment I read -- With Peacock paying for the Network none of WWE's primary revenue streams are dependent on fans anymore.

Good, we are all a bunch jerks anyways :rofl:

[slik]

Interesting point

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vince McMahon has recently signed two separate BILLION dollar TV deals and still takes a cut of his independent contractor’s Cameo money while, more importantly, denying them health insurance. And die hard weirdo fans are still like, “I never miss a show!”</p>&mdash; Jensen Karp (@JensenKarp) <a href="https://twitter.com/JensenKarp/status/1353809024098025472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

Interesting point

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vince McMahon has recently signed two separate BILLION dollar TV deals and still takes a cut of his independent contractor’s Cameo money while, more importantly, denying them health insurance. And die hard weirdo fans are still like, “I never miss a show!”</p>&mdash; Jensen Karp (@JensenKarp) <a href="https://twitter.com/JensenKarp/status/1353809024098025472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More importantly, how will xrod spin this?

[Gerard]

Interesting point

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vince McMahon has recently signed two separate BILLION dollar TV deals and still takes a cut of his independent contractor’s Cameo money while, more importantly, denying them health insurance. And die hard weirdo fans are still like, “I never miss a show!”</p>&mdash; Jensen Karp (@JensenKarp) <a href="https://twitter.com/JensenKarp/status/1353809024098025472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Vince is a money grabbing fuck, not much more to be said.

[slik]

I'm still trying to process Disney owning American Horror Story and now I gotta add ECW PPVS being on an NBC app to my brain

[Lock Jaw]

#ShutItDown

[slik]

ESPN has CENA NUFF

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the aftermath of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWE</a> Network heading to NBCUniversal and Peacock Premium, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESPN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESPN</a> has opted to stop airing all WWE content. <a href="https://t.co/zZToKQNd1I">https://t.co/zZToKQNd1I</a></p>&mdash; WhatCulture Wrestling (@WhatCultureWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhatCultureWWE/status/1353837905530249216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[ClockShot]

Really think WWE is have money issues.

Good riddance. NBC will appreciate the bump in subscribers come March.

[Bad News Gertner]

Fun fact

At one point in the 1985 the WWF was on CBS, NBC, TBS, USA and ABC at the same time.

[slik]

Really think WWE is have money issues.

Good riddance. NBC will appreciate the bump in subscribers come March.

I think Vince will sell WWE for a shitload of $$$ in the next couple of years, I think all these deals would be appealing to a potential buyer. But like w/ Dana White when UFC got bought the McMahons will retain their positions in the company.

[Evil Vito]

Three separate billion dollar deals but employee status and health insurance is still a bridge too far.

[Jordan]

What content did WWE have on ESPN?

[slik]

They were airing old WWE ppvs this last year to fill time w/o sports and would break exclusives on ESPN dot com about WWE news sometimes, nothing major tho

[slik]

How does the NFL handle allowing games on other networks to be mentioned?

I know WWE will obviously be able to promote ppvs but I wonder how much FOX will let them promote/advertise Peacock

[Bad News Gertner]

WWE has a long history of thinking it's not a huge deal if their stuff is being shown on competing networks. They've been that way since 1984 when MTV showed the Brawl to end it All. USA Network was mad about that one.

[dronepool]

WWE wants more of that peacock. We need more dick jokes.

[M-A-G]

I'm going to miss the RAW after Mania crowd...always the best/most entertaining crowd of the year

Meh. It was funny the first time around but it eventually grew tiresome with the people getting full of themselves.

[xrodmuc316]

More importantly, how will xrod spin this?

Umm, Vince should have given them health insurance years ago???

Is that a spin?

[slik]

I'm not a math person so I didn't think about this at all


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon, help me out here. If the deal is worth a billion dollars for five years, how does NBCU justify that price tag? 1.1 million subscribers paying $4.99 a month comes out to just under $60 million in subscription fees annually. What am I missing?</p>&mdash; Jesse Collings (@JesseCollings) <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseCollings/status/1353762569182453760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Vince McMahon knows how to strike up a fucking deal. AE-Who? Lol at people in this thread thinking this is a bad thing. This is GIANT for them. It increases their visibility so much. Peacock isn’t international (right now), but I might actually end up with access to old PPVs because I would get it if it were.

The deal is worth so much because WWE is going to bring over with them a certain amount of traffic and those viewers are going to use the app for other reasons, some of which will have more valuable ad space.

[xrodmuc316]

I'm not a math person so I didn't think about this at all


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon, help me out here. If the deal is worth a billion dollars for five years, how does NBCU justify that price tag? 1.1 million subscribers paying $4.99 a month comes out to just under $60 million in subscription fees annually. What am I missing?</p>&mdash; Jesse Collings (@JesseCollings) <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseCollings/status/1353762569182453760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's all an arms race. Landing any content that swings the favor to Peacock over say HBO Max or CBS All Access is a major win to them. They just added 17,000 hours of content, plus year round new content that will be added.

[GD]

Umm, Vince should have given them health insurance years ago???

Is that a spin?

Not the spin I was expecting but I'll take it.

[erickman]

It's all an arms race. Landing any content that swings the favor to Peacock over say HBO Max or CBS All Access is a major win to them. They just added 17,000 hours of content, plus year round new content that will be added.

that is true, i looked at the movie content on peacock even the paid one an it sucks. peacock will know atleast 1 month of the year will get a bunch of wrestling fans.

[#1-norm-fan]

Not all that long ago, WWE was able to get over a million people to spend $60+ to watch WrestleMania. Now it’s basically free and they’ll probably get roughly the same amount of people to watch. Insane to think about.

[Seanny One Ball]

Vince is only getting richer though, so how does that work?

[xrodmuc316]

This Yokozuna docu on the Network is awesome.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

So is Mania gonna be free in the peacock app now?

[Bad News Gertner]

This Yokozuna docu on the Network is awesome.

Agreed. Lots of fun so far

[xrodmuc316]

So is Mania gonna be free in the peacock app now?

Only if you get Peacock premium for free with like Comcast cable or whoever that is.

The big confusion is they call their $4.99 version Peacock Premium but it's not their highest tier. $9.99 is their highest tier, which is ad free.

So they have:
1. Free
2. Premium
3. Ad Free

Something like 24 million of those cable subscribers get Premium for free, but they can still pay $4.99 to get as free. If 5% of those people watch Mania, that would be a homerun for WWE.

Peacock also has what I read was 26 million paying subscribers not including the above mentioned 24 million. Again, if 5% of those people decide to watch Wrestemania, between both groups that's an extra 2.5 million U.S. Viewers watching on top of the actual Network subscribers.

It is not out of the question that Wrestlemania could be watched by 4 million domestic viewers.

[Evil Vito]

Lol I loved the Yoko vs Taker casket match devolving into a 10 on 1 beat down on Undertaker

[xrodmuc316]

Lol I loved the Yoko vs Taker casket match devolving into a 10 on 1 beat down on Undertaker

Those damn heels, young me was so pissed about that! Lol

[#1-norm-fan]

Taker speaking from the casket and then ascending to heaven creeped the living shit out of me as a kid.

[Lock Jaw]

I loved it as a kid. Papa Shango making Warrior vomit, now THAT creeped me out

[Volare]

Taker speaking from the casket and then ascending to heaven creeped the living shit out of me as a kid.

This.

[drave]

I loved it as a kid. Papa Shango making Warrior vomit, now THAT creeped me out




This got me bigtime as a kid too. They did a helluva job with it.