The W
June 7, 2009 - birthdaybritney.jpg
Views: 178999771
Main | FAQ | Search: Y! / G | Calendar | Color chart | Log in for more!
28.3.24 0743
The W - Pro Wrestling - WWE Profits down nearly half
This thread has 12 referrals leading to it
Register and log in to post!
Thread rated: 4.46
Pages: 1
(4335 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
User
Post (16 total)
StaggerLee
Scrapple








Since: 3.10.02
From: Right side of the tracks

Since last post: 937 days
Last activity: 937 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.92
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003350.html?categoryid=18&cs=1

I wonder if this will lead to a rash of "best wishes" notices.
Promote this thread!
thecubsfan
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 10.12.01
From: Aurora, IL

Since last post: 947 days
Last activity: 327 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 10.00
Maybe, but as they note in the second paragraph:


    Talk about bad timing: The 25th anniversary of "WrestleMania" may have been a major moneymaker for WWE, but the April event won't help the company's bottom line until the second quarter.


Last year, WM24 was in the 1st quarter, so the quarter to quarter comparison isn't really apples to apples. This quarter is way down, and next quarter will be way up and someone will spin it as business doing a lot better.



thecubsfan.com - luchablog
RYDER FAKIN
Six Degrees of Me








Since: 21.2.02
From: ORLANDO

Since last post: 1440 days
Last activity: 1223 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.17
I was happy as hell to hear Vince finally give up on this movie dream and just release straight to VID.

Now maybe they can take the money and open up different territories for development around the country, playing small local arenas and maybe only drawing 300-500 fans

(or even getting a cheap local TV deal - they obviously changed their minds about showing the green on tv - I can't seem to escape this FCW)

It would help the development workers learn the ropes and not be segmented to Tampa, where they spend their time learning to suck and drive drunk...(SHUT UP ALREADY)

Cubs: Last year, WM24 was in the 1st quarter, so the quarter to quarter comparison isn't really apples to apples. This quarter is way down, and next quarter will be way up and someone will spin it as business doing a lot better.

Yeah - like Variety. "Profits soar as First Quater Results Get Counted Out" - or something equally banal

lotjx: Now, if the economy rebounds and they continue to lose money then its a sign

They made a profit!

FLEA

(edited by RYDER FAKIN on 8.5.09 1649)

Demonstrations are a drag. Besides, we're much too high
lotjx
Scrapple








Since: 5.9.08

Since last post: 1681 days
Last activity: 1520 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.16
The report I saw listed how much WM24 made and even taking that into account as an example of WM25 and adding a few million I think they just broke even on the PPV revenue. A good chunk of this is linked to the economy woes, I know people will say this says how much WWE sucks or needs changes, I kinda doubt it. Now, if the economy rebounds and they continue to lose money then its a sign. Right now, I am taking a wait in see stance. I do think the idea of five days of week WWE is probably on hold as are a lot of things.
OndaGrande
Boudin rouge








Since: 1.5.03
From: California, Home of THE LAKERS!

Since last post: 2663 days
Last activity: 2227 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 0.20

Unfortunately the people who deserve most of the blame will never take it (because their names are Stephanie McMahon and her writing staff). People aren't watching wrestling like they used to because real fights are on tv all week long now, and the cartoons and gimmicks schtick just isn't flying anymore.
Of course, the fact that some of the best pro wrestlers ever are no longer with us or too old to work doesn't help either. But really, there are so many great wrestlers out there and already on the roster that aren't given the time of day in favor of some of the total wastes of oxygen who are given the spotlight. And yes,I hold TNA to the same standard and they are just as in the toilet and always will be as long as Russo and JJ run the show.



LEARN IT, KNOW IT, LIVE IT!
The Game
Boudin rouge








Since: 5.5.09

Since last post: 3824 days
Last activity: 3824 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.00
I wonder which wrestlers will be "future endeavored" to help save the WWE money...
HMD
Andouille








Since: 8.6.02
From: Canada

Since last post: 2541 days
Last activity: 2541 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.87
    Originally posted by OndaGrande
    Unfortunately the people who deserve most of the blame will never take it (because their names are Stephanie McMahon and her writing staff). People aren't watching wrestling like they used to because real fights are on tv all week long now, and the cartoons and gimmicks schtick just isn't flying anymore.
    Of course, the fact that some of the best pro wrestlers ever are no longer with us or too old to work doesn't help either. But really, there are so many great wrestlers out there and already on the roster that aren't given the time of day in favor of some of the total wastes of oxygen who are given the spotlight. And yes,I hold TNA to the same standard and they are just as in the toilet and always will be as long as Russo and JJ run the show.


But aren't profits down nearly half compared with last year? I'm with you on the WWE product being pretty awful these days. And with Triple getting na-na-na-hey-hey-goodbyed at the last PPV, I think there is a clear sense developing that you or I aren't alone among longtime, paying fans who are sick of what's being offered. To me this is close to 1995 bad. And at least in 1995, they had Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, close to their primes, to carry the load with actual quality wrestling.

But all that being said, regarding this particular financial report, is the product really fifty percent crappier than it was a year ago? I'd say it's about ten percent worse, thanks to more Orton, Priceless, too much face Hunter and additional McMahon influence. But I don't that that alone really explains it. Gotta give the economy some blame.

And hey, remember when basic pay-per-views were $19.95? The In Your House ones? And then only the big ones were 29.95? Now everything, no matter how shitty and underwhelming, is...what...39.95? And that was before every event was going to be easily downloadable free of charge off the net the next day...I'm not sure that, even if they slashed prices, there would be much they could do about that.



Quiet, Or Papa Spank!
redsoxnation
Scrapple








Since: 24.7.02

Since last post: 3923 days
Last activity: 3923 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.72
I'd love to jump on the rip the McMahon Family bandwagon, but on this one I can't. Though it was down 50% from the same time period in '08, they made a PROFIT during a time period where the economy was much worse than 12 months prior. And, they lose Mania from one year to another, so I'm actually surprised they did as well. Now, if profits are down, or an actual loss occurs, this quarter when they have the addition of Mania vs. last year, then let panic hit the streets.
JustinShapiro
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 12.12.01

Since last post: 1764 days
Last activity: 1416 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.32
    Originally posted by Hogan's My Dad
    And at least in 1995, they had Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, close to their primes, to carry the load with actual quality wrestling.


Yeah and everyone else except Owen Hart and 1-2-3 Kid sucked. The current roster is a lot more talented and there's plenty of great wrestling. WWF in 1995 didn't put on a PPV anywhere near as good as No Way Out or Backlash.
Mr. Boffo
Scrapple








Since: 24.3.02
From: Oshkosh, WI

Since last post: 3895 days
Last activity: 3856 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.24
It's not half. As already noted, WM25 wasn't included in the first quarter in 2009 like it was in 08.

If you exclude Wrestlemania 24 from last year's numbers, it's a decrease of about 15%. And even most of that isn't in the core business:

Category 2009 2008
TV Rights $24.9 $24.0
Licensing $19.8 $26.2
NA Live Events $17.0 $15.9
PPV $13.6 $17.4
Home Video $9.2 $14.0
Venue Merch $4.6 $4.3
WWE.com $3.9 $4.5
WWE Studios $3.7 $11.8
Magazines $3.5 $2.9
WWEShop $3.0 $3.6
WWE 24/7 $1.5 $1.6
Int Live Events $1.0 $2.8
Total $105.7 $129.0


All the areas WWE is down are the areas you would expect to see down with people worried about money. People are less likely to buy PPVs, DVDs, Video Games and Toys (which makes up the Licensing Fees). And then WWE Studios made $8 million less than a year ago, which isn't surprising, because this is still residuals from the first three movies. They haven't realized any profit from 12 Rounds (The W at Amazon) or Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, Ken Kennedy's direct to DVD release yet.

Bottom line, the sky is not falling.
Oliver
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3314 days
Last activity: 3308 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.61
Wow...I totally forgot about Kennedy's movie. Was it any good? I'm curious about the second Marine movie, but I bet I'll forget about that one, too.




I love this town!
HMD
Andouille








Since: 8.6.02
From: Canada

Since last post: 2541 days
Last activity: 2541 days
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.87
    Originally posted by JustinShapiro
      Originally posted by Hogan's My Dad
      And at least in 1995, they had Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, close to their primes, to carry the load with actual quality wrestling.


    Yeah and everyone else except Owen Hart and 1-2-3 Kid sucked. The current roster is a lot more talented and there's plenty of great wrestling. WWF in 1995 didn't put on a PPV anywhere near as good as No Way Out or Backlash.


Let's not be ridiculous. Hakushi is on my list of all-time underrated guys, and was completely awesome; he had some great matches. Goldust was introduced that year, and seeing him today it's easy to forget just how ballsy and cutting edge that character orginally was. And I wouldn't say Undertaker or Davey Boy Smith "sucked". And these were also the days where Hall and Nash worked hard.

And I said it was nearly 1995 bad, not as bad or worse.

If you can get passed how incredibly over-rehearsed most of the matches today look, then yes, there is a lot of great stuff today. But without any sense of character development, it is hard to really get behind anyone. Kofi Kingston, for example, is a lot of fun to watch, but other than being Jafaican, there's nothing there. There is no reason to like him beyond whatever physical charisma he brings to one particular segment of television. As soon as his quarter-hour is over, he's totally forgotten. And that is true of everyone. There is no consistency. It really has a directionless, Nitro-esque feel to it these days.

I fail to see how titles that matter and storylines that pay off and have at least a few years of continuity built in is in any way inconsistent with the unrealistic wet dream Vince has of his product as an "action-adventure soap opera" with total mainstream acceptance. Those who are critical of WWE are not now and aren't going to be in the future asking for anything at all unreasonable. No one expects a perfect show every week, just something that doesn't look like it's been thrown together.



Quiet, Or Papa Spank!
oldschoolhero
Knackwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: nWo Country

Since last post: 5431 days
Last activity: 5365 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.00
Goldust was terrible when he debuted, and UT had spent four years working with nothing but slugs and had yet to develop as a worker. Hakushi was only as good as his opponent, and Hall and Nash worked hard only against each other and Shawn.

I agree with Shapiro-invoking 1995 in any way as compared to today's product is hyperbole. I agree though, it's not unreasonable to have expectations for the product's quality. It's also not unreasonable to expect people not to run around proclaiming disaster everyone WWE profits take a hit. Not that you were doing that, of course.



"And here...we...go."
spf
Scrapple








Since: 2.1.02
From: The Las Vegas of Canada

Since last post: 3069 days
Last activity: 404 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.16
    Originally posted by redsoxnation
    I'd love to jump on the rip the McMahon Family bandwagon, but on this one I can't. Though it was down 50% from the same time period in '08, they made a PROFIT during a time period where the economy was much worse than 12 months prior. And, they lose Mania from one year to another, so I'm actually surprised they did as well. Now, if profits are down, or an actual loss occurs, this quarter when they have the addition of Mania vs. last year, then let panic hit the streets.

I'm not really curious enough to look at the final report, but I wonder how profitable the activities of their current wrestlers are. Between the DVD's and 24/7, it seems like those are areas that are almost pure profit centers. And most of the big selling dvd's seem to be aimed at the nostalgia market.

If anything this just shows how incredibly good a deal Vince got by buying WCW. With their footage, and all the small promotions he picked up, they could stop running live events altogether and probably be a profitable company.



2007 and 2008 W-League Fantasy Football champion!
Jackson
Sujuk








Since: 4.1.02

Since last post: 5434 days
Last activity: 4959 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.85
Cena's fanbase isn't old enough to have jobs.
oldschoolhero
Knackwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: nWo Country

Since last post: 5431 days
Last activity: 5365 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.00
But they're old enough to bug the crap out of their parents until they get them his latest stuff. Of all the things to pick on, Cena's fanbase not making money is probably the weirdest.



"And here...we...go."
Thread rated: 4.46
Pages: 1
Thread ahead: WWE Superstars #4 -- May 7th, 2009
Next thread: Benoit's doctor gets 10 years in prison
Previous thread: Friday Night Smackdown - May 8, 2009
(4335 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
http://tv.msn.com/video/tv/?g=f5c87220-ef64-47e2-a39a-f4710ce2cbaa When was this? Just saw it today on window's live "Today"
Related threads: Silly question about DVDs and announcers. - Now THAT'S how you spin the numbers - Vince on E:60 thoughts - More...
The W - Pro Wrestling - WWE Profits down nearly halfRegister and log in to post!

The W™ message board

ZimBoard
©2001-2024 Brothers Zim

This old hunk of junk rendered your page in 0.325 seconds.