WWE Network... It's Here

[Bix]

Except that these have taken the place of the Raw Flashbacks on the schedule, just when they were about to get up to the Monday Night Wars era.

Well, that's not good.

[CaptCabana]

I wouldn't read too much into it. It's just that they're already almost to the point in 95 where Nitro debuted, so they want to hold up now until they are ready to start posting Nitros and the Monday Night War series so people can watch them back to back

[Timbo Slice]

I'm really wavering on whether or not I renew. There's some neat stuff from time to time and NXT is alright, but I'm not sure I'd miss anything until stuff like Mid-South, JCP and other WCW stuff start getting put on there. And I'm not sure that's gonna happen anytime soon.

[shoe]

I'm not advocating for this type of show because the depth isn't their but I'm going to throw it out there I went to a Raw in Austin with my friend and his girlfriend. He wanted to surprise her because she's a Total Divas fan Especially Brie. She popped when we saw people who are on the show. She was kinda dissapointed by the lack of Divas matches. Why doesn't the network try to do a Divas wrestling show that is angle driven, and promo driven with some wrestling mixed it . This might really click with the Total Divas crowd . Plus they might be more inclined to sample other things on the network. Obviously you would push the show on Total Divas and push the fact you have former episodes of Total Divas on the network. I know my friend is just one sampling though it seems like something for the network to at least research.

[JNLister]

They're doing a 30 minute Cena-Lesnar profile tonight, presumably along the lines of UFC Countdown. Unfortunately it's airing on the WWE Network, meaning the only people who'll see it are the ones who've already "bought" SummerSlam.

[Marty]

I'm not advocating for this type of show because the depth isn't their but I'm going to throw it out there I went to a Raw in Austin with my friend and his girlfriend. He wanted to surprise her because she's a Total Divas fan Especially Brie. She popped when we saw people who are on the show. She was kinda dissapointed by the lack of Divas matches. Why doesn't the network try to do a Divas wrestling show that is angle driven, and promo driven with some wrestling mixed it . This might really click with the Total Divas crowd . Plus they might be more inclined to sample other things on the network. Obviously you would push the show on Total Divas and push the fact you have former episodes of Total Divas on the network. I know my friend is just one sampling though it seems like something for the network to at least research.

 

I hear ya. My wife doesn't watch much wrestling when I have it on aside from when there's women on the show and they're presented in a way that appeals to her. Oddly enough, she initially thought the idea of a Total Divas reality show was a joke...now she loves it far more than I do. In fact, near the end of last season, my old cable box died and I thought, "Maybe this is it for me for cable and stick to internet." She refused to go that direction.

 

I think things like this means that there's no one driving force to increase Network appeal (aside from delivering a stronger current product, thus growing the desire for the PPVs). At best, the Network really can be a "something for everyone" deal. I know the WWE is currently cutting costs, but I do think that, in order to help maximize said appeal, they need to explore things like aquiring rights to show movies starring wrestlers (that they don't already have access to, if that). It wouldn't hurt to have some of Rock's movies on there, and even some of Stone Cold's direct-to-DVD movies may have some appeal. Sports networks (at least here in Canada) show movies a lot during downtime; the WWE wouldn't be doing anything different here. It's a wrestling channel, but things like that should be considered.

 

BTW, the Network launched here in Canada today, on Rogers anyway. Channel 512, with on-demand content on channel 100 (of which I have no idea how it compares to the streaming on-demand stuff). Haven't ordered it yet, have to talk with the wife about that. (The Total Divas re-runs may be a helpful argument in the pro category. )

[David]

WWE reduced the price for a one month subscription from $20 to $13 (http://www.wwe.com/wwenetwork).

 

I hope WWE raises the price for the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. I don't like the idea of someone being able to watch the Big 3 shows for just $39 per year.

[shoe]

I liked the Cena/Lesnar piece on the network. Heyman sounding like how the Grinch Stole Christmas was great.

[Jmare007]

It seems Roger's version of WWE Network is as shitty as people expected.

 

The WWE Network expanded internationally today including as a regular television channel (along with a VOD component) in Canada to those with Rogers on channel 512 (channel 397 for the VOD option).

Below is the content available on demand at the launch:

-SummerSlam 1992
-SummerSlam 1998
-SummerSlam 2000
-SummerSlam 2002
-SummerSlam 2005
-Great American Bash 1989
-Bash at the Beach 1994
-Bash at the Beach 1996
-Bash at the Beach 1998
-ECW Heatwave 1998
-ECW Heatwave 1999
-ECW One Night Stand 2005

 

 

https://twitter.com/LAWradio/status/499237385352515584

https://twitter.com/LAWradio/status/499363708796428288

[fakeplastictrees]

I think both of you got it.Instead of the whole '$9.99' gimmick, WWE should definitely be using the woman who are on Total Divas to help sell The Network. I don't want to see these women pandering, but making references to Total Divas to explain Eva Marie's actions (since she can't do it in the ring) would be great. Two women going at it can harken back to something that happened on Total Divas. The best advertising for The Network without making it cringeworthy is to advertise it as meta as possible. All of this is part of The WWE Universe and I feel WWE can/should define/expand 'The Universe' to include more than just the fans. When Michael Cole starts screaming about the WWE Universe- the fans should be conditioned to think of it as The Marvel Universe. WWE isn't just Raw and Smackdown. Its Raw, Smackdown, Main Event, Superstars, Total Divas, See No Evil, The Marine movies, Twitter, Slam City, etc. It's all of it.

 

WWE featuring Brie and Nikki Bella is a smart move. WWE should look into given more TV face time to the women who are on the hit E! show.

[sek69]

They are missing the boat beating people over the head with the $9.99 gimmick. Other than PPVs, they aren't telling you what you get for that price. From what they mention on TV, you'd get the impression the only thing they show on the network are PPVs and a new season of Slam City starting soon.

 

One thing I've always had branded into my brain in my years of working jobs where you had to upsell is to never lead with price, lead with value. Tell 'em all the cool features your widget has, then knock 'em over with the low low cost.

 

Come to think of it, WWE's approach to the network is exactly the same as co workers I've had who weren't meeting their sales quotas and get desperate.... "come on, why don't you wanna buy this, it's only $9.99!"

[fakeplastictrees]

This is what happens when you have guys who are not salesmen try to sell something. WWE should have their own Don West. Seriously. If I was WWE, I would get Don West on board to sell The Network. WWE should also look into shooting 'funny' commercials for The Network and have these shown on TV channels throughout the country. But yeah, King, Cole, JBL, HHH, and Hogan all need to shut up about The Network. They are all killing it.

[khawk20]

It seems Roger's version of WWE Network is as shitty as people expected.

 

The WWE Network expanded internationally today including as a regular television channel (along with a VOD component) in Canada to those with Rogers on channel 512 (channel 397 for the VOD option).

 

Below is the content available on demand at the launch:

 

-SummerSlam 1992

-SummerSlam 1998

-SummerSlam 2000

-SummerSlam 2002

-SummerSlam 2005

-Great American Bash 1989

-Bash at the Beach 1994

-Bash at the Beach 1996

-Bash at the Beach 1998

-ECW Heatwave 1998

-ECW Heatwave 1999

-ECW One Night Stand 2005

 

 

https://twitter.com/LAWradio/status/499237385352515584

https://twitter.com/LAWradio/status/499363708796428288

 

That's it? Yikes.

[goc]

Actually, hiring Don West to help sell the Network would be a pretty good idea and a nice way to piss on the ashes of TNA also.

[Ryan Faulconer]

IIRC Canadian Netlfix has more WWE content than the WWE netork VOD. If Americans had to use Canadian Netflix there would be a volent uprising of some sort in protest.

[goodhelmet]

This is what happens when you have guys who are not salesmen try to sell something. WWE should have their own Don West. Seriously. If I was WWE, I would get Don West on board to sell The Network. WWE should also look into shooting 'funny' commercials for The Network and have these shown on TV channels throughout the country. But yeah, King, Cole, JBL, HHH, and Hogan all need to shut up about The Network. They are all killing it.

 

Myself, Loss and Chris Harrington are all available for a relatively cheap price. They just have to give us a call.

[sek69]

Loss and Chris can do the pitch, and then Will comes in at the end and threatens to DDT anyone who doesn't sign up.

[Marty]

Don't know if anyone else noticed this, but the funniest thing about the global expansion of the Network is that if you look up its availability in Ireland on wwe.com, they note how the Network will be available in the United Kingdom in October.

[goodhelmet]

Man... Canucks got screwed on their "network"

[khawk20]

Yes. Yes we did.

[Matt D]

I'm sure glad they asked you guys what obscure Canadian footage they wanted you to see.

[Sidebottom]

Sek69 hit the nail on the head. Don't lead with price, lead with value.

[JNLister]

I'm sure glad they asked you guys what obscure Canadian footage they wanted you to see.

Lance Storm's theory is that they'll have to stick some random Canadian stuff on the VOD or even the live channel to get round the local broadcasting laws on having a minimum percentage of Canadian content because they'll be treated as a TV channel.

[khawk20]

That could be the case, which will likely mean a whole lot of Stampede. Some AWA Winnipeg shows that aired on TSN might also make the grade to fill that void, but the whole ESPN/TSN footage that they aired thing confuses me. I assume the WWE can still show that stuff if they have it, and since ESPN has their AWA stuff from the showboat still, does that mean the WWE doesn't?

 

Or is it a shared thing where they both have it and can both use it?

 

One other thing that might pop up is the WWF on TSN, which ran a bunch back after the AWA stopped on that channel. The shows themselves are nothing to write home about, mostly compilation matches from their other main shows as I remember from seeing lists for dvds of it (I never saw the show when it aired as far as I can remember). If they have those, it's an easy add once it's cleaned up.

 

Toronto and Hamilton house shows would probably also count towards filling the void in terms of Canadian content.

 

....I would have to look but I don't know the CRTC regulations regarding Canadian content in terms of what the percentage is anymore (I assume it is still intact as a broadcasting law). It used to be 30% way back. I can't see it being that high anymore but who knows?

[Ryan Faulconer]

There is also Corino's PWF that aired some episodes from...somewhere up north. I can't remember if they aired more than one after it debuted on the APN ten years ago. The IWA Winnipeg from the mid 90s that aired for at least a year back in 2001-2002 would be awesome. I wonder if there are any tapes left from International Wrestling (Montreal) to convert from whatever hamster-on-a-wheel format they used at the time.