Is it just a matter of time before RAW "officially" becomes Nitro? Will the 500th episode of RAW be the first episode of the new Nitro? The 500th episode of RAW is sometime in December, right? That gives them a little over 3 months to set something like that up.
Here's my main question (a dumb one, at that): If WWE does everything right over the next few months, gets overall ratings up to great levels and keeps their split rosters intact, what is the plausibility of moving Smackdown! to Monday night? I don't know the first thing about the financial implications of something like that. I don't know if advertising would be royally screwed up. I don't know if it's even possible. I don't know if Vince McMahon would laugh his ass off at the thought of that. It's just an idea. Giving Smackdown! the 8-10 slot on Monday would only create one hour of head-to-head competition, just like the good ol' days. Could it be done? Would it be done?
EDIT: Yes, I know it would mean having two champions.
Originally posted by Mr ShhIs it just a matter of time before RAW "officially" becomes Nitro? Will the 500th episode of RAW be the first episode of the new Nitro?
I don't think so. Smackdown's still one of or maybe the highest rated show on UPN. Why would they agree to move it? I very much doubt if WWE would run two venues in one night.
Originally posted by Mr Shh Giving Smackdown! the 8-10 slot on Monday would only create one hour of head-to-head competition, just like the good ol' days. Could it be done? Would it be done?
I don't think this would build more audience. Vince won't do this.
One of the very first things you learn at business school is NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER compete with yourself. There is enough competition out there without working against yourself.
I say probably won't happen.
"I'm in collision with every stone I ever threw." - David Gray
Why would they bury their own ratings? Since RAW and SD have at least 90% similar viewership, ratings would drop, thus advertising revenue would drop. Thus, unless they were to get another legal settlement someplace, the WWE would begin showing revenue losses. And once that happens, we know what happens to wrestling companies that lose money.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
Well, they are usually running a SD! house show on Mondays. (likely near the city that Raw is in) They could easily cut to the other building, or have the rosters crash each others' show. I like the idea. Not to necessarily name the show "Nitro", but to have the rosters interact a little more. I think it adds to the competitiveness between the two brands.
Originally posted by SimbaWell, they are usually running a SD! house show on Mondays. (likely near the city that Raw is in) They could easily cut to the other building, or have the rosters crash each others' show. I like the idea. Not to necessarily name the show "Nitro", but to have the rosters interact a little more. I think it adds to the competitiveness between the two brands.
Its costs money to do that, and the WWE is already cutting its profit margin very close to the vest.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
As it was said above, the WWF isn't going to compete with itself. It's not a smart business decision. Now, if NWA/TNA had actually become a threat, I could have seen Vince asking UPN to move Smackdown to Wednesdays, but even in this case, it's still not a sound business decision.
They won't do this for the same reason they didn't do PPV's on a 3 month Raw / Smackdown / Raw + Smackdown cycle, run down WWE.com and empazise Raw and Smackdown, and have separate Raw and SmackDown! champions.
The WWE wants 2 clearly defined brands. It DOESN'T want Raw fans and SmackDown fans. Why? Because as someone said before, 90% of the viewership is shared. Doing that would leave each show with about 60% - 70% of their current viewership and a lot less buyrates for PPV's.
More specifically with your example, it would confuse some fans, especially casual fans. And it would create more jaded fans, which is really not what WWE needs right now.
My thoughts exactly, Parts Unknown, Benoit's mic skills are good enough .. One of the best moments in 96-2000 WCW was when the Horsemen walked into some building and somebody wanted an interview.