Originally posted by WWEExclusive event hosted by Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO, on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.
He's going to announce that he was the one who bought Big Show's house back!
Wait.
Originally posted by PWInsiderFebruary 24th is the expected launch date of the WWE Network.
Originally posted by WrestleZone as paraphrased by the legendary David BixThe WWE Network will contain all of the RAW's, SmackDown's and WWE pay-per-views ever produced off the bat on the first day of launch in its extensive library.
Online only, available on all major connected devices, live 24/7 stream in addition to on demand. $10/month, you pay $60 up-front at launch for the first 6 months but get Wrestlemania 30 and all subsequent non-WM PPVs as part of the subscription. WM31 won't be on the network.
Originally posted by MeltzerPrice was the same as what I heard, WrestleMania same as what I heard.
I don't know if this is "best for business," especially sacrificing WM30 and their exponentially biggest revenue day of the year to launch it, but it sounds like it's best for mine.
Online only, available on all major connected devices
That last part is the key. Those things seem to me to take a lot of time to roll out to all the devices, but maybe the deals they've made to be able to order the PPVs thru various devices were all along a trial balloon for this.
This sounds like a lot less overhead to launching a traditional cable network. It's just not as mature a method. Seems about the right time for someone to try it.
I wonder how cable companies are going to feel. There's still plenty of people who can't/won't/don't know how to* use their connected devices to connect to anything so it's not like WM and PPVs are going to vanish overnight, but you could not do anything more to damage them (except book bad shows and they've got that one covered already.)
Probably will try out. $60, it'll keep me from doing something stupid like going to New Orleans.
* - I hope you liked Michael Cole explaining how to download the WWE App segments before, because they're coming back 10x.
This seems like a very forward move for WWE and for that price, I think I might give it a shot, too, considering all the stupid wrestling videos I watch on YouTube.
I don't think the streaming 24/7 network thing will work out long term. If people want to buy on-demand and live streaming PPVs, that's primarily what they will use them for, to watch whatever they want whenever they want. I think that's a holdover idea from when they wanted to make the next Oprah Network with the WWE brand and the upkeep and need to produce content for a 24/7 network on a constant basis will be too much in the end.
But hey, I've been wrong before and it's not like I own a billion dollar publicly traded company with a movie studio.
Still, giving people on demand access to decades worth of content, the freak PPVs that don't matter, and WrestleMania 30, is a really good deal.
I bet they offer up WrestleMania 31 as a "Special 2015 Offer Buy Now!" when subscribers drop off.
EDIT: They are probably losing a lot of buyrate money and that could be the most costly part of it if they don't get enough subscribers. At the same time, I don't know the numbers for people buying PPVs online and when you consider people live streaming that stuff for free, maybe they think they can get those people and the people that want the discount who buy whatever WWE puts out, so I can see where they're coming from.
Still, WM30 might have the lowest buyrate since WM19 with likely no Rock and this in play, but will still set the record for the Most Viewed Broadcast on the WWE Network of All Time.
The thing is, they're losing money due to people streaming PPV's anyway. If they can hook those people (like me) into paying 10 bucks a month, that's 10 bucks more than what they're getting right now.
I like the idea of online only, however I want to see Mania on my flat screen TV as well as the PPVs I am buying. You can say they are losing money to people who are illegally streaming PPVs, but they are also sacrificing their PPV revenue to people who do pay full price for the PPVs and now are going to buy this ridiculous cheap price. The other sucky thing is doing this in February. If I paid for six months of PPVs, I would want the Rumble to be part of it, but that is my own personal opinion. This will also take place a day after Elimination Chamber. So, you get the following:
Mania: Worth it.
Extreme Rules: Can be worth it 90% of the time.
June PPV: Rarely worth it.
July PPV: Rarely worth it.
Money in the Bank: Usually worth it.
SummerSlam: Can be worth it, but of late tends to finish in awkward ways.
If two of the six are good then you made your money back, anything else is gravy. I'd sacrifice SummerSlam and MitB just for the Rumble.
(edited by lotjx on 6.12.13 0804) The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by El NastioThe thing is, they're losing money due to people streaming PPV's anyway. If they can hook those people (like me) into paying 10 bucks a month, that's 10 bucks more than what they're getting right now.
It's still I risk, though. As badly as they do now, the PPVs are still generating revenue. The numbers WWE has been putting forth for the network to make it profitable sound astronomical and awfully unrealistic considering WWE and wrestling in general is not considered hot or cool at the moment. It seems like it would have just been easier to make a deal with Netflix.
(edited by Hogan's My Dad on 6.12.13 0628) Quiet, Or Papa Spank!
Why do I have a bad feeling it won't be available to NON-US subscribers?
You actually have a much better chance of getting this if they 'only' have to get clearance on local app markets and not TV stations. I believe the WWE app is on XBox, even, so you'd have access if my theory is right. This approach is great news for Canada and other locales.
I don't think the streaming 24/7 network thing will work out long term. If people want to buy on-demand and live streaming PPVs, that's primarily what they will use them for, to watch whatever they want whenever they want.
I don't think it'll hold over the long term either, but if we go back to original message...
The WWE Network will contain all of the RAW's, SmackDown's and WWE pay-per-views ever produced off the bat on the first day of launch in its extensive library.
You can't have all those shows available on a 24/7 network. You CAN if it's on demand. I think it's on demand (with occasional live programming.) Vaya con dios, weekday call in talk show with Scott Stanford.
The thing is, they're losing money due to people streaming PPV's anyway. If they can hook those people (like me) into paying 10 bucks a month, that's 10 bucks more than what they're getting right now.
If they can - but if you're getting it for free and happy enough with that method, not all of you are going to start to pay. And meanwhile, if you're one of the 100K still buying every PPV, you absolutely should be ordering this. It really depends on how much WWE will make per Network buy vs PPV buy, but WWE needs to get 6 people to buy the channel for every 1 PPV buy they lose if we're guessing. There are plenty of people streaming, but there's not THAT many - they need to get a good chunk of people who are content just watching Raw every week and never bothering with the PPVs (hello) to support this. They're glad to have you, but they need more than you if this isn't the new XFL.
I like the idea of online only, however I want to see Mania on my flat screen TV as well as the PPVs I am buying.
There are plenty of way to buy WWE PPVs thru an XBox or a Roku or a Samsung TV to watch on your TV. That doesn't look to change once they're calling it a network.
(Though obviously they need to allow you to watch from whatever device you want to use at that moment, not whichever one you signed up on.)
Originally posted by great point by lotjx!SummerSlam: Can be worth it, but of late tends to finish in awkward ways.
Here's the thing - SummerSlam 2014 becomes the most important PPV of 2014 and maybe this or any other year. That's the last chance WWE gets to make it's case to keep you on - and keep you on thru a few traditionally lacking PPVs, which might make for an interesting summer! - so they've got to put together a good show and they can't do something that'll just antagonize the fanbase (again.) If you can go to your local UK betting house and put money on when Daniel Bryan and/or CM Punk is getting the belt again....
It seems like it would have just been easier to make a deal with Netflix.
They could've definitely moved the archived content over to Netflix and done an okay number and made some okay money on it, but they want to make a lot of money and they need fresh content to make a lot of money. They could also lose a lot of money and irrecoverably break their PPV revenue stream. (It's going to be very fun.)
This is also about WWE creating leverage - they certainly don't want to move RAW or SmackDown to their network in 2014, but they'd love it was strong enough to artificially raise rights fee. (If the Network fails, the WWE theory is they'll still be okay because rights fees for sports programming is rising and they strangely feel they can sell themselves as sports.)
Originally posted by thecubsfanIf they can - but if you're getting it for free and happy enough with that method, not all of you are going to start to pay.
That's where the on-demand availability of old RAW, Smackdown,and PPV's comes in. I'll pay 10 bucks a month for that, easily.
But yeah, some folks in my position will continue to try and watch for free.
(edited by El Nastio on 6.12.13 1100) "You can't put a price on integrity"
I don't think the streaming 24/7 network thing will work out long term. If people want to buy on-demand and live streaming PPVs, that's primarily what they will use them for, to watch whatever they want whenever they want.
I don't think it'll hold over the long term either, but if we go back to original message...
The WWE Network will contain all of the RAW's, SmackDown's and WWE pay-per-views ever produced off the bat on the first day of launch in its extensive library.
You can't have all those shows available on a 24/7 network. You CAN if it's on demand. I think it's on demand (with occasional live programming.) Vaya con dios, weekday call in talk show with Scott Stanford.
It's both. There's on-demand videos and a 24/7 streaming network. People are just going to use the on-demand video part of it for sure. I'm guessing the 24/7 stream is mostly for the live content like PPVs and, when it's not showing PPVs, it'll be showing whatever content they churn out for it. In that sense, it'll be a long term thing because they need a constant live stream just for the occasional live events they broadcast on it.
If they can get this thing on XBoxes, PS4s, and other devices that Netflix has their app on, so they can be streamed onto TVs and phones in HD, I think it'll be a hit. But they'll eventually want to team up with a Netflix or some sort of service that has access to EVERY home eventually. WWE as a sole entity might have trouble getting people to pick it up.
So it's HighSpotify? (Matflix? Glamazon Prime?) Sold!
I'm definitely in for the first year. At the moment, I am buying zero PPVs a year. For the cost of two PPVs, I'll get 12, plus all past content? That's sounds WAY too good to be true.
I have questions, of course.
-Do they have the infrastructure for this, or will it be buggy as hell? -How fast does "past" content show up? Say, if I miss Raw, how long before it's on the network? I'm assuming it will be a longish delay, so as not to ruffle NBCUniversal's feathers. -Sort of to the same point as above, if the network is launching after the Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but all past PPVs are on there, will they be on there too?
I'm one of those folks that has been so disenchanted with the current product that I've actively tuned out until they start the build-up to the Rumble. But even I have to admit, this deal sounds damn good. I think I might be in on this, too.
"Playing guitars. It's hard to sing while playing...guitars."
Originally posted by SchippeWreckSo it's HighSpotify? (Matflix? Glamazon Prime?) Sold!
I'm definitely in for the first year. At the moment, I am buying zero PPVs a year. For the cost of two PPVs, I'll get 12, plus all past content? That's sounds WAY too good to be true.
I have questions, of course.
-Do they have the infrastructure for this, or will it be buggy as hell? -How fast does "past" content show up? Say, if I miss Raw, how long before it's on the network? I'm assuming it will be a longish delay, so as not to ruffle NBCUniversal's feathers. -Sort of to the same point as above, if the network is launching after the Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but all past PPVs are on there, will they be on there too?
No. You pay $60 to start which gets you those PPVS, one of which is the $60 Wrestlemania. You spend another $60 for the other 4 PPVs. So, its really 3 for 6. I would assume if they are doing 13 PPVs next year, it will be the same thing expect it will be 4 for 7. I think, my math maybe wrong.
I would expect the Rumble and Elimination Chamber to be on, so really you are getting the Elimination Chamber the next day. IF and this is the big IF, IF they go live that day. I am thinking they will go live two weeks before Mania. If they go live on Feb. 24th, you will really be getting the 7th PPV ie the Elimination Chamber for free almost.
Justin is right. SummerSlam has to pull out all the stops for people to buy what is essentially 6 regular PPVS and the Rumble.
(edited by lotjx on 6.12.13 1301) The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by SchippeWreckSo it's HighSpotify? (Matflix? Glamazon Prime?) Sold!
I'm definitely in for the first year. At the moment, I am buying zero PPVs a year. For the cost of two PPVs, I'll get 12, plus all past content? That's sounds WAY too good to be true.
I have questions, of course.
-Do they have the infrastructure for this, or will it be buggy as hell? -How fast does "past" content show up? Say, if I miss Raw, how long before it's on the network? I'm assuming it will be a longish delay, so as not to ruffle NBCUniversal's feathers. -Sort of to the same point as above, if the network is launching after the Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but all past PPVs are on there, will they be on there too?
No. You pay $60 to start which gets you those PPVS, one of which is the $60 Wrestlemania. You spend another $60 for the other 4 PPVs. So, its really 3 for 6. I would assume if they are doing 13 PPVs next year, it will be the same thing expect it will be 4 for 7. I think, my math maybe wrong.
Even though your paragraph is a mess and I can't understand your argument, let me clarify my original statement. I said I wanted to buy the service for the first year. That's $120. I was operating under the assumption that HD PPVs cost about $50, with Wrestlemania costing $65. So, if I bought Wrestlemania and one other PPV, it would be about $115 (probably over $120 with taxes and fees). So, for roughly that same price, I would get every PPV from WM 30 through Elimination Chamber 2015.
Actually, now that I've typed that all out, I think I would have to order the service just before Wrestlemania to make my plan work, since there's no March 2014 PPV.
Originally posted by SchippeWreckSo it's HighSpotify? (Matflix? Glamazon Prime?) Sold!
I'm definitely in for the first year. At the moment, I am buying zero PPVs a year. For the cost of two PPVs, I'll get 12, plus all past content? That's sounds WAY too good to be true.
I have questions, of course.
-Do they have the infrastructure for this, or will it be buggy as hell? -How fast does "past" content show up? Say, if I miss Raw, how long before it's on the network? I'm assuming it will be a longish delay, so as not to ruffle NBCUniversal's feathers. -Sort of to the same point as above, if the network is launching after the Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but all past PPVs are on there, will they be on there too?
No. You pay $60 to start which gets you those PPVS, one of which is the $60 Wrestlemania. You spend another $60 for the other 4 PPVs. So, its really 3 for 6. I would assume if they are doing 13 PPVs next year, it will be the same thing expect it will be 4 for 7. I think, my math maybe wrong.
Even though your paragraph is a mess and I can't understand your argument, let me clarify my original statement. I said I wanted to buy the service for the first year. That's $120. I was operating under the assumption that HD PPVs cost about $50, with Wrestlemania costing $65. So, if I bought Wrestlemania and one other PPV, it would be about $115 (probably over $120 with taxes and fees). So, for roughly that same price, I would get every PPV from WM 30 through Elimination Chamber 2015.
Actually, now that I've typed that all out, I think I would have to order the service just before Wrestlemania to make my plan work, since there's no March 2014 PPV.
Ok, let me break it down like this:
$60 = Six PPVs Mania to SummerSlam
$120 = One Year of Service
Another $60 for the rest of the PPVS, so the PPV after SummerSlam to Elimination Chamber.
A grand total of $240. So, its really 1 Wrestlemania plus 4 to 5 PPVS is what you are buying. You may get the Elimination chamber the next day if it goes online. Sorry my paragraph looking back was bad.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
The wording in post 1 was a little unclear, but supposedly every PPV will be on the network as part of the subscription, except Wrestlemanias, but including Wrestlemania 30.
Alternately: buy Wrestlemania 30 for $60 and get a free six-month subscription to the network. Maybe they will add all the initial network sign-ups to the buyrate total so it doesn't look like it took a hit.
Does anyone use MLB.tv? Apparently this is modeled after that and will use the same infrastructure.
You're paying $10/month, whatever you watch. The PPVs are not extra.
They're requiring you to pay for 6 moths at first to stop people from just ordering WrestleMania for $10 and canceling the next day, but there is no additional cost for the PPV.
Does anyone use MLB.tv? Apparently this is modeled after that and will use the same infrastructure.
I've used this a little. They're the industry leader in this method - both in always having enough bandwidth and in getting the app everywhere.
He just didn't make the gimmick believable; he looked as comfortable as Shaniqua at times. I admit he seemed to get a little better, but still no where near ready to perform on the big stage.