WWE Network Subscriber Number Released
The WWE released their Q3 financials today, and announced the number of WWE Network subscribers. The company confirmed that they have 731,000 subscribers for the network. The company added 31,000 subscribers in the quarter, representing a 4% increase from June 30. The Network was expanded into 170 countries, and considering that they had 700,000 subscribers at the end of Q2, this has to come off as a disappointment. The company continues to gain some subscribers, but is also continuing to fail in maintaining the ones that they had.
WWE Network Pricing Plan Changed
WWE announced today in their Q3 financials report that they are introducing a new “simplified price plan” for the WWE Network. They are dropping the six-month commitment, and keeping the price at $9.99.
TNA Status Update
There have been reports that TNA Executive John Gaburick was in New York City yesterday, finalizing a new TV deal for the company. Pwinsider.com reports that they have reached out to TNA, and that is not true as Gaburick is currently in Nashville, TN at the TNA offices. TNA is still negotiating with multiple parties to secure a new TV deal. If they do secure a new TV deal, the company has a verbal agreement for three dates in early January at the Manhattan Center in New York to tape TV.
The WWE released their Q3 financials today, and announced the number of WWE Network subscribers. The company confirmed that they have 731,000 subscribers for the network. The company added 31,000 subscribers in the quarter, representing a 4% increase from June 30. The Network was expanded into 170 countries, and considering that they had 700,000 subscribers at the end of Q2, this has to come off as a disappointment. The company continues to gain some subscribers, but is also continuing to fail in maintaining the ones that they had.
WWE Network Pricing Plan Changed
WWE announced today in their Q3 financials report that they are introducing a new “simplified price plan” for the WWE Network. They are dropping the six-month commitment, and keeping the price at $9.99.
TNA Status Update
There have been reports that TNA Executive John Gaburick was in New York City yesterday, finalizing a new TV deal for the company. Pwinsider.com reports that they have reached out to TNA, and that is not true as Gaburick is currently in Nashville, TN at the TNA offices. TNA is still negotiating with multiple parties to secure a new TV deal. If they do secure a new TV deal, the company has a verbal agreement for three dates in early January at the Manhattan Center in New York to tape TV.
FUCK YEAH I GOT FIRST!
ReplyDelete#InternetIn2003
#TNAGONNADIE
ReplyDeleteDid I do it right?
C+ Should have followed it with "AMIRITE?"
ReplyDelete"Hello is this Fox Sports 1?!?"
ReplyDelete"Who's this?"
"PWInsider! #1 Source for wrestling news on the interwebs! Are you negotiating with TNA!?!?"
*Hangs up*
(Writing) "No comment."
OH TAG!
ReplyDeleteShould have played it out and see where it goes.
...you petulant child.
Shut up, Meekin.
Yeah, money was left on the table.
ReplyDelete** 1/2 you forgot to bring up the dog
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the part where he gives up on the phone calls and gets the peanut butter out for the dog.
ReplyDeleteBums me out about the Network, I don't want it to go away.
ReplyDeleteDamn...forgot that one.
ReplyDelete...something ridiculous VJ says.
There, I made up for it.
Is that who runs PWInsider? I hadn't put that together. I was pointing out ludicrous it is for a major media company to answer questions from a B-level wrestling news site.
ReplyDeleteIt won't... the whole company is tied to it. I think they are ahead of the curve for once here and that this style is going to be the way of TV in the future.
ReplyDeleteThey would be stupid to pull the plug... there are ways to fix it if they get their head out of their ass.
B-level seems a bit high, but okay.
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING IS FINE!
ReplyDeleteWitW brought up an interesting point about WM31 not being on the Network. Besides the financial reasons (casuals will buy it but might not go for the Network), it's interesting to note that they've cut themselves at the knees due to the Network. Even given that PPV companies will grab WM, that still doesn't change the inherit problems with the network - a year-long niche product with no offseason and therefore, no reason to build anticipation for the product.
ReplyDeleteThis company isn't gonna TNA, but they're absolutely not doing well.
Hopefully this scares them enough to fix the product.
ReplyDeleteSo without the 6 month deal... WWE has basically just cut their PPV prices to $9.99. The catch used to be that you're guaranteed to spend $60 for 6 PPVs. Now if you just order 1 show, it's just $9.99, and that's it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that is a good thing.
Yah, they never committed to having WM31 on the network. Last year at the launch, they said "this year" WrestleMania will be on the network, so wouldn't surprise me.
ReplyDeleteNo, it pretty much reeks of desperation to get the sub number to plump up erroneously.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Every addition can be pimped as a "new subscriber", and they can hide it under the morass of stats.
ReplyDeleteThey cannot keep losing subs at this rate.
I still think the Network is simply intimidating to casual fans who are not tech wizards, and pushing Cesaro and Tyson kidd a bit more will not magically triple the numbers. It was a very risky structure change, and right now, they're paying for it.
ReplyDeleteThey're counting on people being too lazy or dumb to cancel. Since they lose 1/3 of their base quarterly, this seems a tad risky
ReplyDeleteVince is going to announce he has purchased TNA Wrestling for just 9.99
ReplyDeleteDropping the six month commitment is going to force them to have better PPVs now... if they can.
ReplyDeleteSeems a little high.
ReplyDeleteThat's all theirs, though, which isn't terrible. However, Network upkeep costs have been above what they estimated, and that's where it gets bad.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure who is saying that pushing Cesaro and Tyson Kidd would somehow raise subscription numbers, but okay. I'll take that as you being you....
ReplyDeleteI do, however, agree that people are generally morons who can't update their Windows, let alone buy a network sub for WWE network correctly.
They haven't lost subscriptions, have they? I thought it's increased 30k or so each quarter. It's just not the massive gains toward the unrealistic number that Vince proclaimed they'd reach when the Network was announced. Which, like I said in the other thread, is what I still think the biggest problem is. Stock prices exist largely off of perception, and if Vince had presented the Network as a long-term change that might be a short-term loss leader, things might be a lot better for them right now.
ReplyDeleteThey got shredded with losses... they added like $250K new but lost almost the same amount.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if the company is never better than marginally profitable again.
ReplyDeleteVince really wanted DJ Z
ReplyDeleteProbably could give Dixie some food stamps for it.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the surface, they've increased 30k. Shoot, you could even say they've added 280k new subscribers.
ReplyDeleteBut they've lost about 250k subs during that period, so while, yes, they've added 30k more since last time, the loss of 250k (and therefore, all that revenue) is a HUGE deal.
It can be spun in a number of ways, but 30k growth isn't good, comparably speaking.
They can't pull the plug because they slaughtered their price point. Short of them cutting a tv deal for their b ppvs they have no outs
ReplyDeleteguys calm down...Rock N Wrestling is coming soon. 1 million subscriptions is right around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThey had 971K unique subscribers total throughout the quarter.
ReplyDeleteWorst In The World, among others seems to be convinced that pushing new guys would automatically give them 13 gazillion new subscriptions. That's what he seems to be implying anyway. Pretty sure that if he was given the book, and had full creative control for 3 months, it really wouldn't change much, except that Cena's value would be destroyed.
ReplyDeleteThis is the thing. If the tv product was better, and it could be very easily, the Network benefits. It's so simple, surely Vince can get it too? Stop 50/50 booking, build interesting mid-card stories, 1m subscribers by end of next quarter (don't forget it launches in the UK next month).
ReplyDeleteBut Cesaro would main event Mania and that alone would bring in another million.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Mania would be worth to a TV network as a special event. Would it be worth $15 million or whatever they normally get in PPV fees to someone like NBC?
ReplyDeleteWow, he got conned....
ReplyDeleteGod I'm sick of the term "50/50 booking". cause if someone loses, he gets "buried", if they trade wins, it's 50/50 booking, and if someone gets a big push (like Sheamus 2 years ago, or Reigns this year), he's "shoved down our throats.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, TNA should just rename themselves TBA.
ReplyDelete"Major announcement To Be Announced as soon as next week. Or the week after. Possibly next month. But by the end of the year for sure. Unless it takes longer. We're working on it, honest! DAMMIT, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LOVE US FOR WHO WE ARE?!?!"
"I will now say $9.99 in 5 different languages"
ReplyDeleteI think it was a bold move and I like bold, but it was also extremely risky. Risky because nostalgia holds only so much appeal. If the NFL, NBA and MLB released an on demand service that was 90 percent classic games I think it would flop.
ReplyDeleteWhat they should've done is left the PPV model untouched.
I honestly think the TV product doesn't matter. Cena-Punk having 5-star matches won't have as significant an impact as watching Bray's ghost take on Husky Harris in a FCA match.
ReplyDeleteThe WWE has done very little to promote the Network as a source of value beyond the "9.99". That, to me, is a big reason why they've failed here.
No, it's certainly not good. I get all that, and I get that it's a disappointing net increase with the subscribers they've lost. My point is more that the reason it isn't good is based off of the perception Vince created with his initial boasts of what a huge immediate success it'd be. When you're a wrestling promoter, shouting at the top of your lungs and waving your arms about how awesome something is going to be is appropriate. Just about anywhere else, setting a lower bar and then easily clearing it is probably the way to go.
ReplyDeleteBut there is 50/50 booking happening. such as Rollins Ambrose. Where it got dragged out and tease and dragged out and then...Bray comes in so Rollins never really won but Ambrose certainly didn't win either.
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely. But you have to be careful with stockholders, as most of them aren't very smart.
ReplyDeleteVince could've kept it low key and it probably wouldn't sting as bad. The fact that he promised 1.4 mil by the end of the year makes it seem that much worse, but he's overpromised things for years.
I'm baffled: last conference call, they announce single month pricing at 19.99, but dropped it to 12.99 when it was actually implemented a few weeks before Summerslam. Now, because they are so married to the 9.99, they have to keep that number AND drop the six-month committment?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the report yet, but unless there was HUGE demand for the single month subscription (suggesting that people wanted the WWE Network but just not the six-month committment), this doesn't make much sense to me.
According to Dr. Ross Geller, a verbal contract is binding in the state of New York.
Well with this news I might just subscribe again.
ReplyDeleteYeah, again I think it comes down to this being the only way they can take Wrestlemania off the Network. It probably comes down to they're seeing that the Network is quickly becoming a bust, and (hopefully) selling a million Mania PPVs at $60 each is now a must.
ReplyDeleteAgreed... they wouldn't be in as bad PR shape if they didn't commit to such wild numbers.
ReplyDeleteAnd once you confuse the customer, you'll have even bigger issues.
ReplyDeleteThat's the other thing I think they fucked up on. Especially with WM30 being the first show on it, why the fuck did they start the price point so low? I would have absolutely bought it at 14.99, maybe even 19.99. Then you can lower it to 9.99 for the second round of subscriptions, if you've somehow determined that's a viable price point.
ReplyDeleteWith November being a free month, they need to go balls out with content updates and deliver a really strong Survivor Series. I wonder if they end up using Brock now.
ReplyDeleteMaking the TV product much better would absolutely help. Noone here is saying pushing Tyson Kidd is a big deal, that's some more strawman bullshit but good try VJ.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, has anyone on this blog ever said they give a shit about Tyson Kidd? Jesus man that's a troll reach even for you.
And Brock will say "make me". We won't see him till January.
ReplyDeleteYep. Independent of Vince's crazy-ass promises, I'd easily make the argument that the Network has been a success. But you just can't separate the two. Understanding that a radical, ahead-of-the-curve thing might take a year or two to start making money is pretty reasonable.
ReplyDeleteHe will do it for $$$
ReplyDeleteIn their research, 9.99 was the perfect jumping on point. You could raise the number to 14.99 once you have subscribers, and most will continue without an issue. They needed to make a splash to hook people, and I think they did well. Where they screwed up was KEEPING those same people, and their strategies have been wildly inconsistent and increasingly desperate.
ReplyDeleteNetflix had a low price point before raising and changing their model slightly, and even they had issues in the beginning.
Man, taking Mania off the Network would be a disaster. They think the numbers are bad now, you take away the main selling point and watch that number plummet.
ReplyDeleteKevin Steen just got his name and it's....... Kevin Owens
ReplyDelete(sorry if already posted)
Gotta love how you make up what other people are saying.
ReplyDeleteMy main point is consistently that the TV product has become God awful and the roster, due to their booking, is the least over its ever been, and yes that absolutely affects the bottom line.
Lower TV ratings equals less possible customers.
Bad TV equals customers who are much less apt to pay money to watch PPV shows.
A roster of un-over midcarders also equals less customers and less people who'll pay for the product.
That's what I'm saying. Or ya know, write your goofy make-em-ups about "13 gazillion new subscribers" in lieu of saying something constructive.
Is he going to read the contract with his fossil brush?
ReplyDeleteBetter be prepared for this one?
ReplyDelete"WWE Network...now for $7.99!"
QUIT APOLOGIZING FOR EVERYTHING WWE DOES VINCE!
ReplyDeleteIt's a general term that sort of fits. Too many series of matches see wins traded with nobody benefitting or a storyline progressing from the results of those matches. Stop that kind of booking and we can stop using crappy phrases like 50/50
ReplyDeleteNo you're right, taking a guy who fans were genuinely responding to and instead making him a jobber is a totally smart idea and I'm sure helped their business. Good point!
ReplyDeleteDeep breaths, dude.
ReplyDeleteGarçon Poutine or GTFO.
ReplyDeleteThat rhymed!
ReplyDeleteAmbrose would need to win a match against Rollins for that to come anywhere near 50/50.
ReplyDeletetransitioning to Bray Ambrose makes it worse too. Now they have to either Job out their most over face not named Cena again...Or job out the guy they have spent a TON of tv time and video packages trying to rehabilitate because they spent most of 2014 jobbing him out. OR do more shit booking like the Rollins Ambrose angle where no one truly gets over.
ReplyDeleteNo it'd be worth nothing. Even Wrestlemania would get basically the same viewers as the most special edition of Raw, like 5 million or so. As a free TV event it's worth about as much as a 3-hour episode of Parks & Rec. PPV is where it's worth something.
ReplyDeleteI think Steve Austin could be key to helping here. He still draws excitement... much more than Hogan at this point.
ReplyDeleteThey should run his podcast as an in studio show like Mike & Mike in the Morning on the Network... definitely do what you can to have a heavy role in Mania and on TV.
...Tyson Kidd was just an example he could have easily said Ziggler or something... I think you know that.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that he agreed to a renegotiated deal that basically said they can use him whenever they want if they pay up, he wouldn't hold out on appearing at SS.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you do to boost subscriptions then?
ReplyDeleteI'd watch that on the network in the mornings.
ReplyDeleteNot putting WM31 on the Network would likely cause a revolt. They can't go backwards with it at this point.
ReplyDelete"Watch Steve Austin shill for Wrestlemania.....which won't be on the Network!"
ReplyDeleteMan, that alone is nuts.
Eh. Not bad. I think they did a decent job with the new guys' new names. I especially like Finn Balor.
ReplyDeleteLike most people I'd love if they just let them be who they already are, but it's pretty understandable why they don't. Never again, after ol' Phil.
Nothing, everything is fine according to VJ
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that Vince prizes hitting the 1M mark above all else and assumes he can make up the losses elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteDon't let reason get in the way of a good temper tantrum.
ReplyDeleteWell they would have to have it on there if they go hard with pushing it as an incentive.
ReplyDeleteListen, I understand he trolls here and I'm just falling for it, but you know what I mean. He makes up what people say to win arguments that nobody is having with him.
ReplyDeleteI'M SORRY!!! (on behalf of me and WWE)
ReplyDelete"So without the 6 month deal... WWE has basically just cut their PPV
ReplyDeleteprices to $9.99. The catch used to be that you're guaranteed to spend
$60 for 6 PPVs. Now if you just order 1 show, it's just $9.99, and
that's it.
Not sure that is a good thing." - Vince Jordan about 30 minutes ago in this very thread.
I love how commenting about wrestling on a wrestling board is a temper tantrum.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, but he wasn't doing that here.
ReplyDeleteNo, Brock will say, "where's my money?" and if WWE feels it's worth it, they'll back a Brinks Truck up to his farm.
ReplyDeleteDude you've been on a four day rampage since Hell in a Cell.
ReplyDeleteYou seriously have no idea how you come off when you post. Maybe in your mind, you're just "talking about wrestling on a wrestling board", but that is not AT ALL how it comes off.
ReplyDeleteI thought the news was they bought more dates and then decided not to use them because it wasn't worth it.
ReplyDelete"pushing Cesaro and Tyson kidd a bit more will not magically triple the numbers."
ReplyDeletePeople are saying that pushing different guys (or pushing ANYONE aside from cena for chrissakes) and making a better TV product would help business, not triple the numbers.
Vince at the meeting "Yes..our ratings are down and subscriptions disappointing but we project that once Ebola really hits the US and the population decreases that we will be able to keep our numbers consistent and be a much bigger success by comparison" :random shareholder on the line:: "sounds good Vince"
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm saying, though. If they'd been more patient with how they pitched it, they could have made a big, but delayed, splash by dropping it to 9.99 after six months. Unless they thought that would be bad PR by reeking of desperation, I guess. But hey, if they were worried about bad PR, they should've made sure they could get to 1M subscribers before they guaranteed they'd do so.
ReplyDeletehyperbole
ReplyDelete[hahy-pur-buh-lee]
noun, Rhetoric
1.
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”.
Considering lots of people bitch about $9.99 being too much, I don't think they would have garnered the subscribers they did with a $19.99 price point. Basically what you do is rope them in with the low price and then justify price hikes by "needing more bandwidth to meet demand."
ReplyDeleteI reckon those bandwidth emails are sitting in some fired marketing guy's drafts on his Outlook.
People are really stuck on gimmicks here on the blog. Can't see past them sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, 'llax, how was that guy's wife in bed? See, even I get stuck on it!
so nobody is being pushed outside of Cena? That is very selective thinking. I'm sure I can dream up 1 or 2 others that are pushed too (and no, not just Orton, lulz)
ReplyDeleteYes he's trolling. Tyson Kidd lol OK vj
ReplyDeleteI got stuck on it also... THAT GUYS WIFE IS WHAT I MEAN!
ReplyDeleteGive CM Punk and Colt a show... let them do and say whatever they wants.
ReplyDeleteVJ, do you seriously have any concept of how you come off here? Come on man, you go around trolling on people like a little weirdo.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, i WOULD have said Ziggler, but he seems to be being pushed pretty well in the past few months *knocks on wood*
ReplyDeleteOK very good.
ReplyDeleteIt's not. You're telling people that your product is now only worth 10 bucks. While that helps to lower expectations (especially when it comes to hologram-infused finishes) it also creates a perception of lesser value. How many times have you seen super-reduced merchandise in a store and immediately thought "what's wrong with it?" before "what a great deal"?
ReplyDeleteKevin had an idea on the podcast last night that could be fun
ReplyDeleteOld wrestlers hanging around a barber shop shooting the shit about the old days, road stories, etc while getting haircuts.
So simple and a cadre of old stars that would do it.
HAHAHA, shit!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that basically what Legends House turned into? I mean, with challenges and stuff.
ReplyDeleteRight, basically the Roundtable show, but more relaxed format.
ReplyDeleteKind of what Legends is and ..I agree that is pretty good for the most part. Thought the barber shop thing means no Marty
ReplyDeleteLegends house was a waste of money. I hope they cut back on those kinds of shows, it probably doesn't help the ## one time, but costs a ton to do.
ReplyDeleteThat'd be a great idea. Overall I'm surpised that WWE hasn't gotten in on the whole wrestler-podcast genre. Network would seem like a natural place for airing TV versions of all those shows.
ReplyDeleteYou're risking the wrath of Red Ross with that comment.
ReplyDeleteWhere's VJ? He needs to lick this number and make it better for the WWE.
ReplyDeleteHe'll never be a guy.
ReplyDeleteQUIT BREAKING KAYFABE.
ReplyDeleteDon't you know you're supposed to love everything WWE does?
Have you not been paying attention to these threads?
ReplyDeleteHe actually criticized there business plan today!
ReplyDeleteUnlike you, I am very self aware yes. You come off as "chicken little/the sky is falling".
ReplyDeleteLow cost adds... simple answers... so many of them out there.
ReplyDeleteGot'cha. I do enjoy it when you two battle to see who's argument is lamer. Proceed for my enjoyment, plebs! Post haste!
ReplyDeleteNope. I just got on.
ReplyDeleteThey'd have to regulate the podcasts in some form. Not sure if it's worth it to them, and it may give the impression of the guy being "neutered" in some way.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be nice to have as an unscripted format, but WWE would screw it up with all their "9.99" promotional tomfoolery.
Who are the people bitching about 9.99 being too much? (I'm not saying you're wrong about that, just that those people are being ridiculous.) Say what you will about the state of the product or the financial issues the Network is posing, but getting a PPV that previously cost 50-60 bucks monthly plus their entire PPV library at your fingertips? I'm as turned off by the current product as anyone else- though I don't think massively improving it is going to see the increase in subscriptions some people seem to think- but not once since February have I regretted that 9.99 leaving my bank account.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add that I think I'm going to go ahead and go to Mania this year. I'm going by myself now because my one friend won't go now. I actually prefer going by myself.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call it a waste of money. It was a bit ridiculous at times, and meant to appeal to an older audience than what they really have right now, but it had moments where it was enjoyable.
ReplyDelete#LOLVINCEJORDANWINS
ReplyDelete....
hey wait a minute....
O rly?
ReplyDelete$9.99 per month, any month seems like a bad plan to me. Especially if WrestleMania is the same price.
He's got ya there, WitW.
ReplyDeleteCome to the Rumble with the PTBN gang!
ReplyDeleteI think the big news is that November is a free month for "new subscribers." Not sure if that means current subscribers are reimbursed for the month.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before (as have many others) and I'll say it again: I think WWE needs to cool down on the emphasis on the pricing (it comes across as "it's inexpensive! Just spend the money!" rather than "this is what you're going to get!") and focus on original content. I liked what they did a week or so ago when they had Hogan appear after Raw as a Network exclusive. Make people feel like they're missing something by not subscribing.
Other relatively easy things they could do that might attract new viewers:
PPV diaries (each month) following a central figure prior to the event - similar to what they did with Daniel Bryan and the Shield.
Special programs devoted to a central feud prior to a PPV (each month) - Similar to what they did with Cena/Lesnar
These are just two ideas that would bring some extra interest to your Superstars and feuds, and it's not overly expensive or time consuming. And, again, you're providing original content that will make people feel like they're missing something.
Oh, and PUT YOUR POPULAR YOUTUBE SHOWS ON THE NETWORK AS EXCLUSIVES!!! Not everything has to be an overproduced talking head documentary series. Sometimes people just want to laugh at the hijinx of the Superstars in the JBL and Cole Show, or look at cool stuff in WWE Warehouse. You own the Network and you're streaming online. You're not restricted to 30 minute blocks of time.
It reminds me of what Triple H said about why there isn't a physical Hall of Fame. To paraphrase his words, there isn't a Hall of Fame because if WWE did a Hall of Fame, it would have to be a larger than life interactive experience. Why? Why can't it simply be a building with memorabilia and plaques and statues? Not everything has to be grandiose and huge. Sometimes less is more.
I think one of the biggest failures from a marketing standpoint is focusing on the price and not the product. I have found working in sales and marketing that a more effective move is to sell the benefits of the product and why it fills the need or want of the potential buyer. Have them already committed to it to the point where they don't even care about the price when they go to purchase it.
ReplyDeleteShit I might not even mention the price. Show a clip of something awesome and make it "If you want to see more of this go to LINK and sign up for WWE Network" Show a menu with hundreds of options of things to watch etc... I suspect this would prove more effective than just telling people how much it costs.
It seems to me that pushing the price as a selling point when you aren't comparing the price to something similar just isn't going to be effective.
Possibly. In Philly?
ReplyDeleteDon't tell Worst though that VJ's on board. We're letting him tucker himself out downthread.
ReplyDeleteWhy not give him Jean-Paul Levesque?
ReplyDeleteYeah it was weird that they made that such a huge part of their promotional push when the Network launched. It was maybe the most promoted piece of content, which is weird because it's something that probably nobody even considered when they made their purchase.
ReplyDeleteI can see the value though of trying to sell a show like that to VH1 or some cable channel, like Total Divas on E.
I just see smatterings of it here and elsewhere. It's also evident in the subscriber numbers. The product sucks, too, but getting a $9.99 commitment from some people is like pulling teeth.
ReplyDeleteFor people like you and me, $9.99 is a smoking deal. I love the Network and have few complaints outside of the original programming lag and the PPV streams sometimes being less than ideal.
Seriously? I think I would start promoting tech support. Like a toll free line. So if an older, non computer savvy fan would like to try it, he can call and get step by step instructions of precisely what to do. (I used to work at an Internet call center, and you have no idea how afraid some people are of making even the slightest mistake. You literally have to hold their hand over the phone.)
ReplyDeleteJOHN CENA IS FREE!
ReplyDeleteJohn Cena ... is fired...
You're right... I got caught up in the moment.
Sorry, watching the end of SurSer 2010.
I think it's possible WWE can hit the 1M for Wrestlemania, but I was under the impression that (even with reduced costs) WWE needed 1M(+) subs every month for the Network to be profitable.
ReplyDeleteWhat (rheotrically, I'm not asking you to solve WWE's problems) can make up the losses? The TV deal is an increase, but below what WWE was projecting. Three of their bigger merch sales (Punk, Bryan, Mysterio) are not on TV for now, and I don't think Reigns or Ambrose are at that level (nor do they have great merchandise). I guess the fact that some people still (stupidly, according to Michael Cole) buy PPVs means WWE is getting "extra" money since their projected Network revenue assumed 0 PPV buys. Ticket sales? I doubt those are great given the product right now, and WWE might have to choose between big houses and (high) paying houses.
I've been saying this for the past 2 months. From a tech standpoint the Network is fine. From a business standpoint, they've failed (epically) to show WHY it's a great value.
ReplyDeleteI was talking about... some other guy. I just want to be there a platonic friend for your wife.
ReplyDelete9.99!
ReplyDeleteYeah pushing the "hey we're cheap!" aspect of a product definitely comes off as desperate, especially since that's pretty much been the MAIN THING they've been advertising it as. Really inept stuff.
ReplyDeleteThis is true - some people are very afraid that hitting the "L" key means "losing everything on the computer, and your house will catch fire, too".
ReplyDeleteBut do you think just that tech support would be enough to solve the flagging subscriptions issue?
ReplyDeleteI always picture him sweating and hyperventilating, as he furiously types in his novel length posts. True story.
ReplyDeleteHey Lil' VJ!
ReplyDeleteWhere is it this year? I forget?
ReplyDeleteThere is, I'm just out buying the crumpets now, Sensai.
ReplyDeleteYou know what would increase subscriptions?
ReplyDeleteRick Martel.
Tito Santana.
Mutha fuckin' Strike Force.
Picture it: Survivor Series. Cena's in real trouble from The Authority. All of a sudden, "Girls in Cars" plays. Roof blown off. 'Nuff said.
Out in California
ReplyDeleteWhat is he wearing?
ReplyDeleteTheir initial marketing was more or less explaining how to sign up, as if their audience was severely challenged. They're going with the Golden Corral mode
ReplyDeleteI've had several ask "left or right?" literally every single time I told them to click on something. Like LITERALLY EVERY TIME, until I had to tell them "always left, unless instructed otherwise".
ReplyDeleteDon't be weird.
ReplyDeleteYou know what is home to some great podcasts? http://placetobenation.com
ReplyDeleteLive stuff would be nice.
ReplyDeleteSo from what I understand, Cesaro being world champion would boost subs because workrate but not really and also something, something Tyson Kidd?
ReplyDeletePeople, let's drop the broad strokes and non-existent arguments. Nearly everyone here has a good point without having to resort to stuff that isn't there.
#hallmonitor
I think it would get new suscribers, aka, those who still are part of the surprisingly high PPV numbers. And about cancelling? they'll probably be too afraid to try. haha
ReplyDeleteYeah, we are driving down Saturday morning... will be doing ROH and the Rumble plus a couple of group hangouts. I think around 15-20 of us going as of now.
ReplyDelete"Unlike you, I am very self aware yes."
ReplyDeleteYou're not Skynet are you?
VJ is way worse than Worse. VJ does it on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteWorse goes on a rant like once a week at most.
And despite the constant explanations, there were still plenty of reports saying that people were calling their cable companies to sign up for the Network and then getting confused.
ReplyDeleteA good chunk of the audience IS severely challenged.
He's picturing someone else sweating frantically. I want to know how much he has really been imagining this.
ReplyDeleteYou know another stupid company? ROH. We produce podcasts for the voices of their promotion at no cost and they do zip with them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like my garbage man.
ReplyDelete.....looks like my garbage man.
Is my garbage man in NXT?! *mind blown*
To update from Meltzer as well, Night of Champions did 50,000 worldwide buys, which is just...woof. HOW ABOUT THAT CENA V. LESNAR FEUD, MAGGLE!
ReplyDelete.... NONE OF YOUR BEES WAX!!!
ReplyDeletesoo... What about them Patriots, eh???? *ahem*
He's been doing it a lot more often lately, as if he's the Yin to VJ's Yang.
ReplyDeleteAgain, another way to increase subscriptions: ORIGINAL CONTENT.
ReplyDeleteAll the "behind the scenes" docs were fantastic (Shield, Bryan, Warrior). More of that.
I'm not saying the sky is falling. I'm saying the product has been pretty bad since the summer, and just unwatchable the last few months, and their numbers are reflecting that. They need to make better TV and fix this roster because it's hurting their business. That's not sky is falling, but yes please continue to skew everything so you can win fake debates.
ReplyDeleteAnd again, I was defending WWE on this board for a long time and have been very even keeled, but what they're doing now is awful. And these Network numbers (and TV ratings and house show attendance and stock price) all to some degree reflect that.
Sadly, I do not know what that is.
ReplyDeleteI bet they know how to look up porn, though.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that really turned me off from the Network was the Monday Night War series. The whole show reeks of the "winners write history" mentality that permeates WWE's general attitude towards WCW. WCW had a very usable shelf life as a money making tool for WWE and they decided to just repeatedly bury the promotion at every opportunity. I also find it inexcusable that all of Raw and Nitro aren't up on the network. At this point they should have all of those AND be working on adding shows like Saturday Night and Prime Time.
ReplyDeleteEh, that was hyperbole because Worst has been screaming about Cena and Orton for a week. You could plug anybody's name in Cesaro's spot.
ReplyDeleteWoof. That's...bad.
ReplyDeleteBAH I forgot you are from the savagelands north of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteIt is the computer system in the Terminator Franchise that becomes self aware and wants to wipe out mankind.
Gotta throw a curve ball every 3 weeks or so.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Human Torch, "This is terribawful".
ReplyDeleteTurrible
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Asshats.
ReplyDeleteI'm cool with the hyperbole, but sometimes it gets taken too far to antagonize people, then the blog turns into a boring pissing match.
ReplyDeleteRight, because that's not weird.
ReplyDeleteI think that's around 150k traditional buys
ReplyDeleteJust take my 9.99.
ReplyDeleteWow, that'd actually be the lowest PPV number of the Network era. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteWell, that bodes well for Cena/Lesnar 4 in a few months, right?
They have a cutdown version of Kevin's show on the website now but it was pulling teeth to get it up there and they take a while to put it up.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rohwrestling.com/content/kevin-kelly-show
The name "WWE Network" is damaging in that way to a degree I believe.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to catch you saying "I'm not picturing him wearing anything!" so I could catch you out imagining him naked and sweaty.
ReplyDeletePatriots? Do you mean the missiles? They're okay. Probably my 3rd favourite.
What a bunch of jackoffs.
ReplyDeleteI mean, jeez, let them at least name drop the shows on commentary or something. Weird company.
ReplyDeleteHave you been to a wrestling show lately? The audience is severely challenged.
ReplyDeleteah damn, I should have known that. But truth be told, I think i've only seen each movie just once. I really should go through them again.
ReplyDeleteWhat else do they call it, though? Go back to WWE On Demand?
ReplyDelete