|
RAW to Stay with NBC/USA Network; Smackdown to get new Home
According to the Hollywood Reporter via the Observer, NBC is currently reported to want to keep RAW but have no desire to also keep Smackdown as part of a package deal.
Quote:
|
WWE about to get dat $$$
|
Investigation Discovery for SD plz, already watch that channel all the time
|
Three times the current deal? I'll believe that when it happens. It'll be interesting to see where SmackDown ends up, but for god's sake, this is the perfect time to end it. The possibility of getting onto a network is probably too good to pass up though.
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have no idea of that report has any validity, but let's assume it does.<br><br>Imagine the rights fees WWE could garner if they were any good at making stars, the ratings were good, and the company was hot.</p>— Voices of Wrestling (@voiceswrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/voiceswrestling/status/996892031858470912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Could probably get legit NASCAR-like money ($800+ million I think) if that was the situation. WWE tried to BS their way into getting something close to it last time and got denied hard in the end. UFC getting over $300 million really helped out the WWE since it seemed FOX and NBC were leaning towards the $200+ million range for RAW & Smackdown combined. |
Them taking SmackDown to FOX would at least be interesting, because then the dynamics of the product change. You'll have a wider range of people watching, due to the network access, which means that the show could have a different demographic appeal. I don't mean this in a racist way, but it opens up SmackDown to a lot more homes on the lower end of the socio-economic scale, which might appreciated acts with different ethnic backgrounds. It could, ironically, make SmackDown a higher priority.
Ha, like that would ever change. But I think everything being under one roof is kind of detrimental to the company right now. |
I wonder if this will affect the brand split? I don't expect the WWE to abandon ship (although they have moved through the motions with this version a lot quicker than the last one), but if they get SmackDown on a network seen by more people, I can see them wanting to put their best foot forward with it. The brand split was all about making SmackDown seem valuable, but if it is left out of the deal, then maybe they will want to throw Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Triple H, Kurt Angle, etc. into the promotion?
|
Yikes.
Smackdown is the better show these days but it's going to be tricky finding a new home. I was thinking Spike/Paramount, but that was one messy divorce and I doubt they'd go back. You sure as hell don't want to follow TNA and hop from network to network every few months. Fox would work. But I don't want to see it buried in FoxSports 1. The main channel or FX will do just fine. You gotta get it front and center. |
Maybe they will take it to Facebook? :shifty:
|
Quote:
Would be hilarious if they did this and got a bunch of porn bots commenting live like MLB did during their first few Facebook broadcasts. |
That would be delightful. Either that or girls Tom Phillips has messaged post them in the comments.
|
Hope they move it to NRA-TV
AJ: "Nakamura! you're not going to hit my nuts anymore" *cocks gun* Corey: "Wow Byron that's the popular M&P M2.0 compact pistol which now comes complete with tactical Crimson Trace Green Laserguard with Instinctive Activation!" Byron: "Neat!" |
Move SmackDown to Food Network
|
Interesting Note -- in the Observer this week Meltz notes that if RAW really is getting a 300% pay increase it makes more sense financially to put the biggest matches on RAW (during sweeps I presume) as opposed to the Network because RAW will be more profitable than the Network.
|
Someone on reddit brought it up, I want to see Smackdown to go History and have Rick Harrison be the GM
|
|
Put in on Cartoon Network on Adult Swim.
|
Quote:
|
That's just what Meltz is suggesting, not guaranteeing it will happen
However, he is right tbh, as much as I love PPVs. Could easily make RAW once a month a 'tv special' called insert ppv name here minus the big shows. |
with fox entertainment about to be bought by ether Disney or Comcast, if fox goes for it, it would have to go to fs1. this is a bad time to shop smackdown
|
If they did that (RAW hosting a 'ppv' once a month on Mondays), and SD didn't get a good offer, they could offset having so many ppvs on the Network by making SD a Network exclusive.
|
yeah if they can't sale smackdown ether get rid of it or make it a network show, but think it will end up on fs1, the ch that tna started on.
|
Maybe Smackdown can just be aired via a series of Touts. Let that tree finally bear fruit.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
"free"
|
I dont think that means what you think that means
|
Stock hit $51.20 today, all time high for the company.
|
Fuck I should have invested in WWE instead of bitcoin!
|
bring back pyro w/ all this new $$$ plz
|
There's something very frustrating about the WWE getting worse and worse, their audience getting smaller and smaller, and them getting more and more money. Not even in a preoccupying way, but in an OCD, something about it is aesthetically unpleasant sort of way.
|
Like, I can feel myself ticking over to the point where I want to detach myself so much that when I'm reading television news in a few years, I can be surprised WWE even still exists when I found out they are either folding or getting renewed for another 8 years and own a country in the Middle-East.
So is this deal real? I don't understand why NBC Universal would agree to this. It feels like they could have renewed for much of the same. |
Quote:
1. Selling their content to Disney, Fox and FS1 & 2 now have the $ and also the need for new original content, and so Fox was offering a similar figure for WWE programming, and probably in particular RAW, and 2. For both Fox and NBC, they've determined that over the length of whatever agreement(s) they've offered or may offer, at least currently, its less risk and more cost effective for them to pay WWE for it's content that has an already established audience, (despite the declining audience), then it is to attempt to develop new original content and build new audiences with no guarantee of return. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
Although that was more of Smackdown Creative not wanting to stretch things over 2 months instead of actually booking things towards a special Smackdown show. |
Quote:
It is true that the longer they've been on the air and on a particular network, a majority of television properties and broadcast rights, generally increase in fees (and also usually costs) over time. However, to increase 3x, given the WWE's decline in ratings and viewership, is pretty remarkable without some outside factor (Fox's competing interest and very likely similar offer, it appears in this case) playing a big role. |
Thanks. :y:
That’s the aim of the game, I guess. It’s frustrating that it’s one thing Vince still licks into. I’m at the stage where I am rooting against the WWE a little bit, because I don’t think they’ll better until they have to. |
According to Variety, the current favorites to get Smackdown are FOX, Facebook, and Amazon.
Quote:
|
I feel like, while ratings are in a steady decline, Raw is still a "safe" show. There's a built-in audience that means it's never in danger of suddenly dropping off the face of the earth suddenly ratings-wise. That's also why there's no urgent incentive to produce compelling television. I'd like to think that's not sustainable long term but no telling how long it's gonna be before they're actually FORCED to try to improve their product.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Heard Fox Sports or national fox.
|
Quote:
WWE would probably just air more of their own ads like they do with the Network than gut the ad time out of their shows. |
Quote:
Worst case for WWE is this happens within the next 2-3 years and best case is RAW plateaus at some point and takes way longer to happen. Also worst case is USA Network finally gets their big 1-2 shows and are hurt more by not putting it on RAW's time spot. |
Quote:
|
There's no way they would ever, ever do this, but I'd mark out if they put SmackDown on Fox on Mondays and started a legit war with themselves. :shifty:
|
That'd be a true brand split, at least.
|
I thought Facebook Watch was a success, from a production standpoint. I never had any lag when I watched the Mixed Match Challenge show. If it goes to FB and anyone can watch essentially anywhere I think that's a big plus.
I'm also intrigued by the possibility of Amazon for similar reasons -- a Prime exclusive, like screech said, could be very cool and live tv would be something new for Amazon I believe. FOX I think the downside of FS1 is not as many eyeballs have it in their cable package as the USA Network so ratings drop...but as has been pointed out multiple times in this thread, lower ratings don't seem to matter in the current tv landscape as much (which I don't get...but oh well). |
I think FS1 or ESPN would be great for Smackdown. Preferably FS1 as I can't stand ESPN anymore but being on a sports channel could give it a reason to have a different feel from Raw. I'd stop watching if they put it on Facebook or Amazon.
|
lol Apparently Smackdown on Facebook potentially is a rumor that's picking up steam.
|
If they're going to do it anywhere online they should do it on twitch...... Still don't think they should do it online tho.
|
amazon would probly offer the most money, that would help sale firesticks if they got smackdown. I still think fox sports is in the lead to get smackdown unless they try to low ball there offer.
|
I'd be OK with the Twitch route but I don't think they can offer the money Facebook or Amazon could. Still hope they end up on FS1.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
well they would see what not to do, hey lets just put a camera on josh and see what he does.
|
Josh has been the best part of Impact on Twitch. Really good behind the scenes look at what goes into a show.
|
This could also make Smackdown a 3 hour show which I'd be all for. Drop 205 Live and just merge it with Smackdown.
|
With twitch you can sell subscriptions, and get bits etc.
|
Quote:
NO WWE does not need another 3 hr show. I was rooting for FOX to get RAW since it was rumored they wanted it back at 2 hrs. |
They should trial a SmackDown on Facebook to see what the viewership ends up like.
|
Quote:
Facebook Watch worked well enough for the Challenge but that was only like 15 minutes. Don't want to be on a screen watching a Facebook stream for 2 hours. |
Quote:
|
Right but I am assuming Twitch would also be paying for the rights as well.
|
Quote:
|
does amazon own twitch, I know amazon and twitch will work togather on thur night football.
|
That is correct.
|
Quote:
HOH and Wrestle Circus both benefit greatly from the exposure Twitch gives them because they don't have TV deals. WWE coming onto Twitch would probably up Twitch's membership and be more beneficial to them in that aspect. |
It wouldn't do shit for the WWE except make them look foolish.
|
Yeah asking Twitch to drop all other wrestling would be foolish.
|
Quote:
|
Is it possible that Hulu could pick it up? They already show the abbreviated replays on demand (which is great), and they do have a live TV plan available already.
|
Quote:
WWE has done similar antics in the past in terms of pettiness with the most recent of them going after ITV and Rev Pro in the UK since WWE wants the UK market to themselves even if it ends up hurting the revival going on there. |
Television isn't dead yet. It's transforming, but it isn't dead. I think a big reason they are getting these big money offers is because these networks need that content in order to justify their existence a little bit. Streaming services and online mediums are an avenue for the future, and they might one day be hungry for that built-in audience, but they can probably wring something out of someone and make it easy to find them.
But more and more I am seeing older demographics being shifted to these new forms of content delivery. Gambling companies and lotteries are trying to hook younger people over here with apps. If you want to go after a younger generation, moving away from traditional TV does make sense. I'm not sure if you do that with SmackDown, however. Maybe getting NXT on Facebook is a better option? |
I think NBC still wants Smackdown, but they are already paying 3 times more for Raw, so they probably just decided not to go for Smackdown on top of that. If WWE doesn't get any legit offers for Smackdown, I could see NBC coming in with a lower offer to move it back to SyFy.
I gotta think though Fox Sports is the likely landing spot since that is going to be Fox's business going forward. As for PPV revenue, that hasn't been their main money maker since probably when TNN gave them a big contract to move Raw there in 2000 |
Yeah, NBC doesnt want to pay the money for both due to the cost and wwe knows they can get a lot more by seperating the two. I dont know much about just how good it would be for smackdown to go to Amazon or Facebook. I would think that overall it would lower the eye count in the long run to damage the blue brand and its roster. Smaller or lesser house shows equals a lot less pay. Now if you ended the brand split and went back to a bigger roster who knows. If it ends up on fox where they could feasibly gather a larger audience smackdown could go up to 3 hours and become a lot bigger deal and we may see a small brand reshuffle as fox would want bigger stars. Could definitely see fox pay for part of Lesnars paycheck to get him more dates much like spike did for sting.
|
I can see Brock and Ronda being leveraging tools for SmackDown, which would mean that the brand split would have to end or they would have to be floaters like Cena and Taker.
|
Quote:
|
WWE currently rumored to be considering the idea of splitting up their streaming rights for RAW and Smackdown in order to squeeze more money out of their new contracts.
Quote:
|
fox is part owner of hulu too so both fox and universal to keep hulu and keep amazon Netflix out.
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:02 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin®