[Emperor Smeat]

The Sheets (Observer Newsletter edition):

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter The WWE had one major change and hints of a second one when it comes to business, which led to a major drop in the stock price ... The second bit of news, perhaps related to the first, was Vince McMahon at the 2/6 conference call noting that they were in talks with other parties as it related to distribution of the former PPV events ... There are a number of key players, obviously ESPN+ and DAZN, and another key player, Peacock, which is scheduled to launch this year. Sources in the industry have said that Peacock would look to WWE to be its key initial programming to draw subscribers from the start, very much as ESPN+ did with UFC. Instead of having to rely on declining network subscription money for big shows, they can get significantly money guaranteed, with the idea they can sell the PPV shows to a streaming service for $12 million to $13 million per monthly event ... According to industry sources, Peacock is scheduled to kick off on 4/15 and would likely have about a $10 per month price point. That date would miss WrestleMania by ten days, which is by far WWE’s most valuable event of the year, and the one they leave tens of millions on the table in making it part of their own network package. DAZN’s situation has changed due to how much money it has lost so far with so many gigantic deals, particularly when it comes to boxing content that subscription revenue can’t come close to covering. ESPN+, with all its growth, is also losing tons of money, as Disney announced losses of $693 million for the year between ESPN+, Hulu and start-up costs for Disney Plus ... If this happens, it would mean a new direction for the network, like it has for Fight Pass. Depending on whether this would be just the 12 or more PPVs, or include Takeovers (more likely not) is to be determined. Like with UFC, the WWE Network may end up being a place for other smaller company content, like wXw, Evolve, Progress and OTT, which has been talked about for years. The latest plan was for a more expensive tier using that content, and perhaps others, but that launch has been delayed as well until all of this gets sorted out ... Based on the price going around, it’s a great deal for WWE. But at some point realism will come into these deals and the overpaying based on streaming revenue it generates not being nearly what is being paid for, there will be a market correction. But right now, nobody knows what the long-term brings and all decisions are short-term.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter WWE Network and PPV revenue fell from $46.8 million last year to $41.6 million this year. The word is that WWE is attempting to sell their PPVs rights for a number barely below the total revenue the network and PPV combined was generating at this pace, and with none of the costs past production of the shows.

In terms of subs, seems moving NXT to USA Network cost the Network at least 66k subs in the US but not as bad of a drop compared to the year before for the fiscal 4th quarter.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Other media revenue went from $63.5 million to $56.1 million. This would be revenue from reality shows, video and theatrical releases, and mostly from Saudi Arabia. This would cover the first show of 2019 where the payment came in during October. It would also indicate that the payment for the second show has not come in yet. That would be why the total revenue for the year would not have broken $1 billion for the first time.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter The 1/29 head-to-head saw AEW do 828,000 viewers (1.39 viewers per home) and a 0.34 in 18-49 and NXT do 712,000 viewers (1.22 viewers per home) and a 0.22 in 18-49 ... NXT was hurt by probably 10,000 in the average viewership by no longer having an overrun. It also led to the Dusty Rhodes tag team tournament final with Pete Dunne & Matt Riddle vs. Zack Gibson & James Drake losing to the AEW main event of Chris Jericho & Santana & Ortiz vs. Private Party & Darby Allin by a 777,000 to 668,000 margin, since there’s probably a good 120,000 to 200,000 viewers who figured they could watch the end of the NXT main event after AEW ended ... The number seems to indicate that AEW being taped last week had very little to do with the lower rating from the week before, since this was live and did a lower number than the taped show. It also seemed to show that the show on the cruise didn’t hurt or help much ... AEW opened with 911,000 viewers and 476,000 in 18-49 with Jon Moxley doing an interview and being confronted by the Inner Circle. NXT opened at 755,000 viewers and 266.000 in 18-49 for Finn Balor vs. Trent Seven. Basically the luster Balor had from behind a main roster star in NXT has dissipated with AEW nearly doubling him in 18-49.

Both shows had 2 notable shifts in channel switching but the Balor stuff was the most interesting part of Meltzer's report.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Both AEW and NXT showed strong increases in viewers on 2/5, although most out of the 18-49 demo, and the gap in AEW’s favor widened even though WWE heavily hyped its show with commercials all over Raw and pushing the first Charlotte Flair appearance on NXT. AEW, built largely around Cody taking ten lashes from MJF did 928,000 viewers (1.43 viewers per home, one of the best of any wrestling show this TV season) and a 0.36 in 18-49, up 12 percent in viewers from last week and six percent in the key demo. NXT did 770,000 viewers (1.25 viewers per home) and 0.22 in 18-49, an increase of 8.1 percent but staying the same in 18-49. In 18-49, AEW had 468,000 viewers to 288,000 for NXT. In all groups within that demo, the edge went to AEW. In women 18-34, it was 56,000 to 32,000. In men 18-34 it was 101,000 to 64,000. In women 35-it was 90,000 to 64,000. In men 35-49, it was 221,000 to 128,000 ... The key component in this story relates to Flair ... Thing can change, but week one indicated Flair did increase NXT’s audience with older viewers, but AEW increased more with younger viewers ... For Miz & Mrs., they drew a very different audience from NXT, much younger and far more women, particularly teenage girls and less than half of AEW and only 40 percent of NXT when it comes to over 50.

Meltzer didn't include the quarter breakdowns but found the Miz & Mrs part to be very interesting. It did a much better job drawing younger viewers than NXT and Charlotte's appearance did.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Smackdown on 1/31 did a 1.50 rating and 2,422,000 viewers (1.35 viewers per home), almost identical with the 1.52 rating and 2,448,000 viewers the prior week. I’d call that good because on the West Coast, the show got hurt by the giant numbers the first Los Angeles Lakers game since Kobe Bryant’s death. It started at 10 p.m. Eastern meaning it only went against the West Coast feed ... Smackdown did an 0.7 in 18-49 ... Last year on the same weekend, FOX did a 1.0 in 18-49 and 4,185,000 viewers, so they are down 30 percent in 18-49 and 42.1 percent in viewers.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Rusev has been off television due to a contract dispute

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Shayna Baszler will be a regular on Raw shortly. She is leaving NXT and this has been planned for a long time, probably close to a year so the thing about not wanting to transfer stars in NXT to the main roster and give the idea NXT is developmental or a stepping stone rather than a third brand doesn’t apply to her. For Angel Garza, the story is different. He is considered an NXT guy, but he will be on Raw for now as a fill-in for Andrade. It keeps Carrillo in a program and keeps Vega on television. There is no decision long-term, as he could stay and probably should stay on Raw because the guy is loaded with charisma either as a face or a heel, and he can go in the ring. But he was not a scheduled call-up and those on the NXT roster aren’t allowed to be called up right now unless it’s something planned long-term

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Regarding social media, the issues with Vince McMahon and Matt Riddle are due to his social media posts and challenges. Brock Lesnar doesn’t like him for it and Lesnar has tremendous pull with Vince. Vince also sees him as an outside guy and feels Riddle has no respect for the hierarchy of the business by challenging Goldberg and Lesnar.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter New Japan Pro Wrestling ran the first two of three major New Beginning shows this past weekend, as well as finished its weakest attended foreign tour since its popularity comeback in the U.S. ... Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa regained the IWGP tag team titles beating Juice Robinson & David Finlay on 2/1 at the Coca Cola Roxy in Atlanta ... The idea was for Tonga & Loa to next do a program with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi, but that depends on Ibushi’s condition. Ibushi is currently out of action with Mallory Weiss Syndrome, which is serious but generally not a long lasting condition and he is still booked for the 2/9 show in Osaka Jo Hall

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter There is still talk about a summer show in Madison Square Garden. It’s not been announced but they did have an August date talked about a few weeks ago. It is close, but you still have the WWE component that at one point got the show shut down last year. The date wasn’t finalized in time to announce it at the Dome on 1/5. But because New Japan did sellout in one day the first time, MSG did not close the door on them for booking even against the wishes of WWE. There are those who think they can sell out again because the first went clean on day one ... Plus, while they did sell out instantly, the secondary market was weak because so many bought tickets with the idea of Omega defending the IWGP title, since he was champion at the time the tickets were put on sale. New Japan is going with the idea the sellout was the popularity of New Japan and the drawing power of Okada in particular and that it can be pulled off again.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Joey Janela’s Spring Break show on 4/3 at the Cuban Club in Ybor City, FL, which is the Friday night before WrestleMania, is looking at trying to sell upwards of 4,000 tickets, making it the biggest indie crowd of the year. The first major matches announced are Orange Cassidy vs. Minoru Suzuki and Tony Deppan vs. Alex Shelley. They’ve also announced Will Ospreay and Great Muta

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter There are issues behind-the-scenes between MLW and Impact. MLW claims Impact tried to break up the NOAH/MLW relationship as well as the AAA/MLW relationship. The latter wasn’t successful since Konnan and Laredo kid were on the show

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Three other names that have been talked about as being part of the TNA show bringing back talent from the past are Mike Tenay (asked but right now I’d say more likely not happening), Dixie Carter and the other guy they are going back-and-forth about asking is Vince Russo. There seems to be the idea that if they bring in Russo, that it would stir up so much negativity that people would for sure know the date and time of the show and that it would help business The angle with Ace Austin hitting on Trey Miguel’s mom has been dropped. The woman who played Miguel’s mom actually worked a regular job for the company but she’s no longer working here