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|  #1 Posted on 10.3.05 1944.35
Reposted on: 10.3.12 1944.44 | Credit: Marketwatch.com
Spike TV late Thursday said it has ended several months of talks with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) over extending their relationship beyond September. "Moving forward, Spike TV will expand its investments in original programming and new acquisitions for its core audience," Spike TV said in a company statement.
Is this just a bargaining ploy by Spike? I heard the rumors the past few months about WWE wanting to return to USA Network but I just thought they were just silly rumors. IF this is true is USA Network the only other network WWE should aim for?
(edited by XPacArmy on 10.3.05 2048) | Promote this thread! |             | Kane Is Ugly
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| #2 Posted on 10.3.05 2003.43
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2008.25 | I think as long as SpikeTV is targeted as a network for men, getting rid of WWE seems pretty silly. I dont care what channel RAW is on as long as its a major network that I can get on my cable package. There really isnt that many networks that really fit for WWE. Maybe TBS or TNT, but I doubt they would go back to showing wrestling again. The only other channels I could even imagine wanting wrestling would be FX or maybe E! (thats a real long shot). So, if this is really the end of WWE on Spike, I cant imagine USA not getting wrestling back.
| XPacArmy
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| #3 Posted on 10.3.05 2015.44
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2021.36 | Originally posted by Kane Is Ugly
I think as long as SpikeTV is targeted as a network for men, getting rid of WWE seems pretty silly.
Didn't Spike just fire, or he quit, the guy whose idea it was to make Spike "The First Network For Men"? And they were gonna go in a new direction with someone from Comedy Central, I think? I don't think I am making this up I thoguht I read it somewhere. | geemoney
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| #4 Posted on 10.3.05 2022.55
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2029.01 | Originally posted by XPacArmy
Originally posted by Kane Is Ugly
I think as long as SpikeTV is targeted as a network for men, getting rid of WWE seems pretty silly.
Didn't Spike just fire, or he quit, the guy whose idea it was to make Spike "The First Network For Men"? And they were gonna go in a new direction with someone from Comedy Central, I think? I don't think I am making this up I thoguht I read it somewhere.
You're not dreaming: Comedy Central Chief Takes on SpikeTV>
(edited by geemoney on 10.3.05 2123) | PeterStork
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| #5 Posted on 10.3.05 2033.03
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2038.58 | Here comes NBC.
They've been wanting to retool USA, and their interest in the Fed has been established on this board before. I've lost count of how many survey's I've received from the network asking about interest in pro wrestling. "What do you like best about it? How much do you look forward to watching it?" Et cetera, et cetera.
The question then becomes, does NBC get Raw for USA, or does Viacom freak at the network becoming stronger and reopen talks to keep it on Spike? What of SmackDown; there's no place in NBC Uni for it (Bravo - no way. Trio - dead. CNBC - well, it'd be better than Dennis Miller and Donnie Nipples) and Viacom might wish to rid itself of Stamford completely.
Other nets: Time Warner won't care, and though FX could be a dark horse, I think NBC would bid higher. USA's ratings are still better than FX's, but Fox likes to keep program costs lower. | redsoxnation
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| #6 Posted on 10.3.05 2131.58
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2136.12 | This makes Spike's picking up the WWF/E Hall of Fame for Hogan seem unusual, as why provide extra exposure to a product that will be leaving for a competitor in 6 months?
Until a contract is signed with another network, Spike is always a possibility to still retain the product. This might be a preemptive move by Spike in order to flush out potential competitors, or a move to see if Vince is trying to bluff them out of additional dollars.
Now, if Spike is losing this product, will we be seeing the end of overruns, as Spike has no need to allow Vince an additional 5-10 minutes of weekly programming. | FriedEgg
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| #7 Posted on 10.3.05 2157.44
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2159.01 | The Hall of Fame special isn't really "extra" coverage, because it's airing in the Velocity timeslot (and then repeated on Sunday before Heat). WWE is happy because it promotes Wrestlemania, and Spike is happy because they'll probably get a slightly higher rating out of it.
(edited by FriedEgg on 10.3.05 2258) | LanceJr
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| #8 Posted on 10.3.05 2228.29
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2229.01 | It's done. WWE returns to USA Network. I wonder if RAW and other shows will be interupted a few weeks a year for US Open and dog shows. Wonder what this means for SD!? Maybe it's going to USA as well.
Spike made this announcement...
"After several months of negotiations, we have decided to end our discussions about extending our relationship with WWE beyond September 2005," wrote Spike TV in a press release. "Moving forward, Spike TV will expand its investments in original programming and new acquisitions for its core audience."
Several news reports state that Linda and Shane McMahon were at NBC/Universal offices in Rockefeller Center several days ago. And reports are that a deal is done and locked with WWE programming airing on the USA Network. An announcement should be expected soon.
| Matt Tracker
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| #9 Posted on 10.3.05 2300.09
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2301.47 | | No! I can't be denied two hours of Law & Order: SVU on Monday nights! That will only leave me with 20 hours a week! | Packman V2
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| #10 Posted on 10.3.05 2312.36
Reposted on: 10.3.12 2320.43 | Whatever happens, if it leads to Smackdown moving to Cable, and me being able to watch both brands...I'll be excited. I can take a couple of delayed Raws a year for the Kennel show and US open if need be...but at least move SD! to a network I can pickup...fucking DirecTV and their lack of UPN....
| LanceJr
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| #11 Posted on 11.3.05 0004.21
Reposted on: 11.3.12 0004.24 | Originally posted by Packman V2
Whatever happens, if it leads to Smackdown moving to Cable, and me being able to watch both brands...I'll be excited. I can take a couple of delayed Raws a year for the Kennel show and US open if need be...but at least move SD! to a network I can pickup...fucking DirecTV and their lack of UPN....
Well the lack of UPN is your fault. Ever hear of a local TV package or dare I say..getting a local only cable package?
But I do see how this might ease things overseas with having all WWE programming on one network.
Also kinda screws over people in college and/or people with no cable/dish at all. Sad people will have to resort to the shitty Afterburn/Bottomline recap shows that air usually in the middle of the night on the weekends locally. | Oliver
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|  #12 Posted on 11.3.05 0913.43
Reposted on: 11.3.12 0913.50 | Here in Canada, it doesn't make much of a difference. TSN has a lock on the WWE programming, so it doesn't show on Spike...and we don't get the USA network here.
I'd just like to know...should the WWE return to the USA network...will they get pre-empted for the dog show or tennis shows, like they did in the past? | Matt Tracker
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| #13 Posted on 11.3.05 1113.58
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1115.32 | | Can anyone think of anything seen on RAW recently that USA may have balked at? I wonder if Spike gave the WWE more leeway for certain angles. | Mayhem
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| #14 Posted on 11.3.05 1124.58
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1128.31 | Originally posted by Matt Tracker
Can anyone think of anything seen on RAW recently that USA may have balked at? I wonder if Spike gave the WWE more leeway for certain angles.
The Lita & Kane baby thing ranks right up there. | Mr Shh
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| #15 Posted on 11.3.05 1139.01
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1139.11 | Originally posted by Matt Tracker
Can anyone think of anything seen on RAW recently that USA may have balked at? I wonder if Spike gave the WWE more leeway for certain angles.
Huh? Some of the most "offensive" programming in WWE history aired on USA - everything DX, Austin's crucifixion, the sacrifice of Dennis Knight, etc, etc. | Eradicator
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| #16 Posted on 11.3.05 1139.29
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1139.29 | Originally posted by Matt Tracker
Can anyone think of anything seen on RAW recently that USA may have balked at? I wonder if Spike gave the WWE more leeway for certain angles.
Well, I can only see them balking at anything if they have changed their outlook over the last several years. I mean, didn't USA broadcast all of the raunchy stuff up untill 2000? Remember Raw is Porn with Mark Henry getting it on with a drag queen named Sammy? That was on USA, so I think today's WWE will be fine. | DJ FrostyFreeze
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| #17 Posted on 11.3.05 1141.13
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1141.16 | Originally posted by The Hollywood Reporter
Despite "Raw's" high ratings, sources said Spike TV was balking at paying an increase in license fees that would have cost Viacom an estimated $40 million per year.
PWInsider says this is a +40% increase over what SpikeTV has paid WWE over the last 5 years. Yikes. | Matt Tracker
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| #18 Posted on 11.3.05 1145.01
Reposted on: 11.3.12 1159.01 | Originally posted by Mr Shh
Originally posted by Matt Tracker
Can anyone think of anything seen on RAW recently that USA may have balked at? I wonder if Spike gave the WWE more leeway for certain angles.
Huh? Some of the most "offensive" programming in WWE history aired on USA - everything DX, Austin's crucifixion, the sacrifice of Dennis Knight, etc, etc.
If memory serves, that all happened before the PTC and the Florida lawsuit appeared to spook Vince and the network somewhat. USA was broadcasting softcore movie-of-the-week material at the same time and scaled back on that (unless you, like me, are surprised by what the L&O:SVU episodes seem to get away with). | jivesoulbro
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| #19 Posted on 13.3.05 1221.34
Reposted on: 13.3.12 1222.15 | | I'm not a marketing or advertising expert, but I don't understand why there would not be a desire to keep this show, or at least why there aren't more networks trying to get it. RAW is said to be among the highest-rated prime-time shows on all of cable, and aren't the 12- to 34-year-old viewers that it caters to coveted by advertisers? | Guru Zim
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| #20 Posted on 13.3.05 1311.50
Reposted on: 13.3.12 1313.54 | Originally posted by jivesoulbro
I'm not a marketing or advertising expert, but I don't understand why there would not be a desire to keep this show, or at least why there aren't more networks trying to get it. RAW is said to be among the highest-rated prime-time shows on all of cable, and aren't the 12- to 34-year-old viewers that it caters to coveted by advertisers?
We'd need someone with access to the advertising rates to break it down, but the short version from what I've heard is that the ad rate is low.
In one sense the ratings matter, but in another they really don't. It doesn't matter if no one watches the show at all if people are willing to pay top dollar to advertise during it. I believe that the dog show on USA is used as an example of a show like this.
Then you have shows that kill in the ratings but aren't very expensive to advertise on. I think Spongebob and RAW fall in this category, if I remember correctly.
The ratings allow you to try to justify a higher ad rate, but if no one wants to be associated with your audience, it doesn't put you in a very good position. Therefore a highly rated show does not actually guarantee that you are profitable, which is really more the end result that networks are going for, not viewers. Viewers generally equal a profit, but it's not a hard and fast rule.
Someone who actually can back up what they are talking about (read: not me) probably should jump in here with actual facts. |
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