Originally posted by ReutersNEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Wrestling magnate Vince McMahon is searching for a new tag-team partner in television.
McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment recently held preliminary discussions with cable groups including Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal and FX Networks, according to sources, about relocating top-rated weekly program "WWE Raw" and its other series from Spike TV when their contract expires in September.
Ironically, one of the front-runners to land the WWE is said to be NBC Universal's USA Network, the WWE's cable home before Spike TV. Their split sparked a bitter legal battle between USA Network and WWE in early 2000 when USA was then controlled by Barry Diller's USA Networks Inc.
Kurt Schneider, executive vp marketing at WWE, confirmed the wrestling empire might enter the ring with a different channel but characterized the talks as pro forma.
"We still have a mutually beneficial relationship with Spike TV, and we're looking for a longer-term one with them," he said. "But for us, we think we have an obligation as a public company to our shareholders to seek the best deal out there that we can get."
(Don't post full articles - Scott)
(edited by ScottChrist on 12.10.04 1523) and thats all i have to say about that!
When they left USA it was over such a long and drawn-out battle. There were so many stumbling blocks and problems that WWE was almost forced to sniff out a better deal. Viacom presented them with the best long-term plan, and it sounds like they've done very little to hurt than relationship in the past four years. I'd bet they stay on Spike at the end of the day.
A few thoughts on some of the points from the article: The median age going up 7 years to 34 in a 4 year period is not good. That means they aren't developing younger fans and are on the cusp of becoming middle-aged programming. That will hurt with advertisers who look to skewer younger, and it also means if this continues, the writing will have to evolve. On the plus side, as FLEA has stated many times, at least they have the video library to fall back on, as that will mean more to the aging demographic than any new material. Of course, if people only are going to spend X on the product per year and they would rather spend it on old material, that means diminishing returns for the current product. USA is the network that makes sense for Vince to go home to, but is he willing to give up 3 nights for the U.S. Open and the Dog Show? FX has the feel of dropping down, much as going to TNN did after being on USA. With the way TBS and TNT have developed brand identities since '01, I find it difficult to envision them going away from their philosophies to give the WWF/E 2 hours of prime time per week.
Yeah I agree with Canadian Bulldog I think its just a negotiating ploy. To me its like when a player is going to be a free agent and their agent floats out five or six teams interested. As for TNT and TBS they both have two totally different directions. TNT is "We Know Drama" and TBS is trying to be a comedy network, I don't see the WWE fitting into either.
I know that a couple of months ago, NBC sent out surveys asking how viewers would feel about professional wrestling on it's networks. Alot of questions asking about how the viewers would view NBC if they aired wrestling again. While it might be a ploy, if Vince gets a great deal with someone else, I am sure he would jump.
January 4th 1999 - The day WCW injected itself with 10 gallons of Liquid Anthrax...AKA...The day Hogan "Defeated" Nash to win the WCW title in front of 40,000.
I think Vince will do it if the price is right. The problem with USA is that Linda asked if they could shop around and they said go ahead. USA has not recovered since and is currently on the selling block. So, I could see NBC looking to start another network or just do a few Saturday Night Main Events considering how bad SNL is, it might be worth it. FX does seem moving down, but Nip/Tuck and the Sheild are making them legit. If they go to TNT, I think my mind would explode.
Originally posted by A FanUSA has not recovered since and is currently on the selling block. So, I could see NBC looking to start another network or just do a few Saturday Night Main Events considering how bad SNL is, it might be worth it.
NBC OWNS USA. Your logic befuddles me. USA has the best clearance of ANY cable network...and NBC would start another network rather than retooling USA if it is, as you claim, in trouble? Even though they'd have problems getting clearance after they sold coverage in 90+ million homes to another media group? And, even if you're just proposing that NBC blow up "USA Network" and rebrand (like Viacom did with TNN/Spike,) you're talking about ditching one of the most historic, premiere brand names in cable in favor of something no one has ever heard of. Not smart.
(By the way, last week (Sep 27 - Oct 3) in primetime 18-49, the demo that matters the most, USA ranked a horrible second among all cable networks. Second. To ESPN. Overall they were fourth, trailing Nick, TBS and ESPN. Nielsen/Cynopsis, before you ask the source.)
USA is not for sale. NBC Uni will shut down or re-tool Trio, continue branding Bravo as a liberal network, and sway USA to the middle ground. Which could include wrestling.
I posted in the past about the NBC surveys I was sent (that were alluded to earlier in this thread) and they kept it up this week. Again I was asked what networks I frequent, and when I mentioned Spike they asked about WWE Wrestling, how often I watch and when I watch. No other Spike shows were mentioned. Is NBC after the WWE? I'd say it's a definite posibility. They're at least interested in who watches and how often. I see little reason to care other than aquisition.
Will Viacom let that happen? I doubt it. They can't be overjoyed by the deal, seeing how the Fed has fallen off in popularity, but it is still good, high rated programming for Spike (and to a lesser extent, UPN, who will dump Smackdown! within the next five years if UPN's trend of decent development turns out to be more than a fad.) I doubt this will be that high of a bidding war.
WWE on a WB property? No. It would clash with TNT's drama brand, and though it might fit with TBS's comedy-slash-sports deal, I don't think anyone at Warner is that anxious to work with WWE, even if Jamie Kellner has left the building.
FX is in no way a drop down, though I don't see them in the game. WWE needs them more than vice versa.
Originally posted by A FanI think Vince will do it if the price is right. The problem with USA is that Linda asked if they could shop around and they said go ahead. USA has not recovered since and is currently on the selling block. So, I could see NBC looking to start another network or just do a few Saturday Night Main Events considering how bad SNL is, it might be worth it. FX does seem moving down, but Nip/Tuck and the Sheild are making them legit. If they go to TNT, I think my mind would explode.
Do you really think Saturday Night's Main Event would draw in this day and age? Part of its appeal was the fact that it was the only place to see marquee matches other than pay-per-view which not only was still in its relative infancy with regards to market availability, but also came only four times per year. In those days, I'm sure you remember we only had Superstars and that was all squashes. What would make Saturday Night's Main Event special as apposed to a regular Raw or Smackdown, which both routinely give away high-level matches and then ask them to be paid for at the end of the month? And if these prospective SNME's could be made special, how could that be done without compromising the numerous pay-per-views now saturating the market?
To the question of moving networks, I never thought Vince should have left USA in the first place. It had been their home for twenty years prior to the move, and most importantly had stuck with them through some very bad business. Three shows a year being postponed is a small price to pay for loyalty. If, God forbid, WWE's ratings fall even lower, will Spike be willing to stick with them when they can't break 2.5 anymore? Maybe, maybe not.
Say, can't Vince afford to buy a cable channel by now?
Edit: What UPN trend, Stork? Smackdown is still their highest rated show, and #1 in the country among Hispanics. They won't drop that anytime soon.
(edited by Hogan's My Dad on 12.10.04 2025) Hot Virgins-The World's Most Steadily Shrinking Commodity
Originally posted by A FanI think Vince will do it if the price is right. The problem with USA is that Linda asked if they could shop around and they said go ahead. USA has not recovered since and is currently on the selling block. So, I could see NBC looking to start another network or just do a few Saturday Night Main Events considering how bad SNL is, it might be worth it. FX does seem moving down, but Nip/Tuck and the Sheild are making them legit. If they go to TNT, I think my mind would explode.
Do you really think Saturday Night's Main Event would draw in this day and age? Part of its appeal was the fact that it was the only place to see marquee matches other than pay-per-view which not only was still in its relative infancy with regards to market availability, but also came only four times per year. In those days, I'm sure you remember we only had Superstars and that was all squashes. What would make Saturday Night's Main Event special as apposed to a regular Raw or Smackdown, which both routinely give away high-level matches and then ask them to be paid for at the end of the month? And if these prospective SNME's could be made special, how could that be done without compromising the numerous pay-per-views now saturating the market?
To the question of moving networks, I never thought Vince should have left USA in the first place. It had been their home for twenty years prior to the move, and most importantly had stuck with them through some very bad business. Three shows a year being postponed is a small price to pay for loyalty. If, God forbid, WWE's ratings fall even lower, will Spike be willing to stick with them when they can't break 2.5 anymore? Maybe, maybe not.
Say, can't Vince afford to buy a cable channel by now?
You could theoretically do an SNME (or Clash of the Champions) when a brand doesn't have a PPV that month. Just spend the month booking to that rather than a PPV. .
Originally posted by Hogan's My DadEdit: What UPN trend, Stork? Smackdown is still their highest rated show, and #1 in the country among Hispanics. They won't drop that anytime soon.
30k a spot. WOW. In case you don't feel like counting, UPN has eight shows that can charge more per spot, including the brand new Kevin Hill which has good ratings and demos (meaning the ad rate will go up, unlike Smackdown's.) And don't think that UPN's cost is that much less for WWE's programming, since they own pretty much all their other shows through Paramount and can repurpose/syndicate those programs. Their profit on WWE ends at 10 eastern on Thursday.
UPN has buzz and ratings and some of this fall's best development. If this continues, and I did say if, Smackdown won't be around in five years. Ratings mean nothing when you can't sell advertisments for a decent cost and you get bad press. Plus, if UPN keeps developing well, they'll want to shake their old "sixth place network" stigma. Smackdown brings ratings, but NOT money. It also brings the "wrestling" stigma, which is not negative to people who frequent this board, but is to people that Les Moonves hopes to attract to his bastard network.
It's not going anywhere that soon...not in the next couple years. But it won't be there forever.
Oh, and hispanics... Top 10 Broadcast English Language Primetime Programs in Hispanic TV Homes for the week of September 27-October 3, 2004 ABC NFL Monday Night Football (Mon 9p) 8.9 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Desperate Housewives (Sun 9p) 7.3 NHTI HH Rtg ABC George Lopez (Tue 830p) 6.0 NHTI HH Rtg ABC NFL Monday Showcase (Mon 9p) 5.8 NHTI HH Rtg CBS CSI: Miami (Mon 10p) 5.7 NHTI HH Rtg CBS CSI (Wed 9p, OTO) 5.5 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Lost (Wed 8pm) 5.4 NHTI HH Rtg ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Ed (Sun 8p) 5.4 NHTI HH Rtg Fox Fox Sunday Movie (Sun 8p) 5.1 NHTI HH Rtg CBS CSI: NY (Wed 10p) 5.0 NHTI HH Rtg Source Nielsen Media Research Note NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes
Hot shot booking is killing the shows. I agree with Wylde and my good friend, RawLo. They need some depth to their characters and give us reasons to love/hate these guys.