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Post by thelaw on Nov 1, 2014 0:04:38 GMT -5
Acting like 100k of PPV buys were better than 731k of subscribers. I'm not the one making the call. If everything was fine, the WWE would not have made all the major cuts in expenses. With 731,000, the network does not have enough subscribers to even be profitable on its own. So right now, there is a legitimate debate whether this service can even make money. But just making money on its own is not good enough. The network has to be profitable enough to cover revenue lost from ppv. I cannot see how this scenario is possible in the foreseeable future.
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Post by Milky on Nov 1, 2014 16:46:05 GMT -5
Acting like 100k of PPV buys were better than 731k of subscribers. I'm not the one making the call. If everything was fine, the WWE would not have made all the major cuts in expenses. With 731,000, the network does not have enough subscribers to even be profitable on its own. So right now, there is a legitimate debate whether this service can even make money. But just making money on its own is not good enough. The network has to be profitable enough to cover revenue lost from ppv. I cannot see how this scenario is possible in the foreseeable future. This is a good point. Other areas of the WWE's business can help cover the cost, however. Merchandise sales and so on. Or cuts can help too. But your point is still valid. I think the main problems have already been cited. The content on The Network isn't really that great (at least not good enough to keep people buying monthly, indefinitely) and also they've cannibalized their own PPV business. I'm sure their subscription numbers will go up for Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, but I do worry about the long-term health of this project. The Network clearly should have just been a niche complimentary side-piece to their regular business; then, the WWE could have slowly built it over time. Instead, they've put all of their eggs in one basket and promoted The Network as their main revenue source before it was even ready. This might be the first purely wrestling venture that Vince McMahon has ever been involved in that went sour.
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Post by john casey on Nov 1, 2014 19:10:44 GMT -5
This really should have been done as a TV channel, As someone who works full time and has to travel to and from work, I just want to be able to put the TV on and just have it there also I have other things to do and watch other TV programmes and feel that it's not worth the hassle of setting up my laptop and watching it via that method whereas if it was on TV, I could have it on in the background.
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deezy
Misawa
Posts: 2,334
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Post by deezy on Nov 2, 2014 16:59:54 GMT -5
It's just growing pains, the network isn't even a year old yet. It's been international for what? Two months?
They still have revenue to keep them going until the network becomes profitable, they will eventually start releasing content that will click and become a major draw towards the network, it also didn't help that the guy fronting this whole thing buggered off to the NFL right after it launched, and they got to find a person who can focus all their attention on it, instead of being micromanaged by someone who has figuratively a million other things to do on a weekly basis.
Shit takes time, too early to act all Chicken Little and scream "the sky is falling".
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Post by chrisarrant on Nov 2, 2014 21:10:14 GMT -5
At this point, in would be a massive punch in the gut and a step back to let the WWE Network whither like the old WWE On Demand. Originally they had over-sized expectations for sign-ups, and now that that's proven false they have to bring their budget more in line with the revenue coming in while also doing intense market research -- perhaps hire a 3rd party company -- to figure out what their potential customer wants -- and not the IRC, but the wider wrestling audience. Who is thier potential audience? The people who watch RAW -- last week's episode garnered 3,839,000 estimated views in America -- while their subscriber numbers are under 700k. That means only 5% of their RAW audience is subcribed to the Network. They need to look at the NFL Network and see waht they can adapt from that while still being a digital network; perhaps it means making it a tiered system -- one price for unlimited digital access and one lower price for a limited # of hours per month. Or perhaps they do an unlimited digital price and a Rogers-style channel price.
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Post by RKing85 on Nov 2, 2014 22:36:38 GMT -5
yeah, the WWE had their expectations way to high based on some surveys that some company gave to them. The surveys said there were like 90 million pro wrestling fans in the United States. This ignoring the fact that Raw does what, 3 million viewers every Monday?
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Post by aussieshark on Nov 5, 2014 21:04:45 GMT -5
731,000 is low yes but they need to see how this can be increased, i believe they are not looking either inhouse or some simple ways to increase subscribers
* Security, the network does not block multiple applications using 1 password the NHL network does, they fix security issue no loss in numbers, and potential to pick up some more subscribers * The rollout international was a disgrace no one was felt special only the USA they need to address this and see what can be done, i will outline options below * The international scenario to get the word out there make some small sponsorship deals with sporting teams in different countries get WWE name on jersey or at stadiums, it may see increase * Take a PPV overseas not a big one but one big enough it will sell out and cchance again to increase subscribers * Use in house talent you have Zac Ryder sitting there, use him if not in ring but having video podcasts to network he is at ease on screen * Dont mention the people who spend money on PPV let them continue to do that * Ensure story lines work, creative cannot make mistakes The key is to use all your in house talent, just not in the ring but to best of abilities, you cannot take Mania off the network now, what is done is done, and shareholders would get nervous more if another change is made
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