WWE Network, budget cuts??

[Havoc]

I enjoy all the extra footage and the PPVs are pretty much gravy but I think it's kind of bullshit that they lure you in for Mania, hire on a shitload of extra servers so it looks and works great and then cut back on things so it works just OK. The last 2 PPVs the feed has been pretty shitty and seven minutes in my feed has clocked at least ten different time for a second or two. It did that a few times last PPV and pixelated a few times but it's well on it's way to beating that. Rake us in for our money and then cut expenses. Fuck that.

[maddog1981]

I don't understand how hard it is to get old content on there. You would think that would be easy and give people stuff to watch. I honestly turn on the Network half the time and feel like there's nothing worth my time.

[wildfire]

So I was thinking... lots of the 'experts' seem to be saying the network is, if not a failure, certainly not a success.

What if WWE rented space out? For instance, say they let Chikara's cards play (either live, or later)... would that get them a signifigant increase in subscribers? Would an indy fed be able to afford it? Or would making their historical footage available be more valuable than a cash payment?

I know alot of indy stuff can be found free if you know where to look, but the $9.99/month isn't enough to make people cringe and pay for the convience of going to one play to see it.

[maddog1981]

I don't think that would create that much of a stir. Adding indies would only probably add a few thousand people at most.

They've just mismanaged it. The debacle in Canada just shows why this isn't going to work for them.

[toasterboy]

I remember in the early days of Netflix streaming there were a lot of bumps in the road. Granted, they had an enormously successful DVD business going so they could struggle with streaming for a bit with no worries. But it took them a while to find their footing. I love the Network and one of the huge advantages I see was it works anywhere. I watched Wrestlemania, live, in Australia. Know how much Netflix I watched in Australia? None. Because it's blocked there, even though I'm an american watching on an American device. Anyway, I don't think it's the hit they want but I'm confident it'll find its footing. If they added back episodes of Tuesday Night Titans, Superstars and Wrestling Challenge, I'd never have the damn thing off.

[swarm]

Jul 20, 2014 20:09:43 GMT -4 Havoc said:

I enjoy all the extra footage and the PPVs are pretty much gravy but I think it's kind of bullshit that they lure you in for Mania, hire on a shitload of extra servers so it looks and works great and then cut back on things so it works just OK. The last 2 PPVs the feed has been pretty shitty and seven minutes in my feed has clocked at least ten different time for a second or two. It did that a few times last PPV and pixelated a few times but it's well on it's way to beating that. Rake us in for our money and then cut expenses. Fuck that.

Unfortunately, this is how most business' operate. You lose money at first by going all in to build a buyers base, then slowly cut back expenses to earn profit once you've got a steady stream of return business.

That's why featured fast food (Wendy's new burgers, Taco Belll breakfast) is only best when it first drops, then goes to shit 8-12 weeks later when the big effort campaign ends.

[swarm]

WWE's problem is obvious. They're simply delusional. Watch this video, and realize that this is the fan the WWE wants. They want WWE to be a lifestyle, where you lure in hot women with your autographed John Cena hat, bang out a few kids, then decorate your great new house with copious amounts of WWE memrobilia while said hot wife continues to fawn over you forever.

This fan just does not exist. Never will.



The network has one real strength, the PPV's. But this is 2014 where WWE fans aren't life long memorabilia collectors who's entire lives revolve around the product. Most fans either watch the PPVs with pals, stream them, or don't watch at all.

As a parent, why would I pay 10 bucks for my kid to watch something he can watch for free 3 times a week? As an adult, there is nothing the network can offer me that I haven't already seen before.

Out of touch with the fans who got them here.

[maddog1981]

I was in pretty early on Netflix Streaming. And it had it's problems but you could see the value in it by the amount of content there. With the WWE Network, I literally can log on and feel like there's nothing on worth watching. They just don't overwhelm you with the content and make it feel like there's good value there.

And they had to cut expenses because they are running so far behind their projections. They thought they were going to be well on their way to 1.5 million subscribers at this point and they're just under 700k. This is an epic level disaster for them on the financial front. They're trying to cut the budget to where a million subscribers is profitable and not just a break even point.

[swarm]

Aug 16, 2014 13:02:27 GMT -4 maddog1981 said:

I was in pretty early on Netflix Streaming. And it had it's problems but you could see the value in it by the amount of content there. With the WWE Network, I literally can log on and feel like there's nothing on worth watching. They just don't overwhelm you with the content and make it feel like there's good value there.

And they had to cut expenses because they are running so far behind their projections. They thought they were going to be well on their way to 1.5 million subscribers at this point and they're just under 700k. This is an epic level disaster for them on the financial front. They're trying to cut the budget to where a million subscribers is profitable and not just a break even point.

Until a few days ago I was under the impression you had a limitless library to pick and choose from 24/7 365. I guess that isn't entirely true? Sometimes you just watch whatever they are showing? Is that right?

[Deleted]

There's the 24/7 stream and then there's a huge VOD library with all the PPVs from WWF/WCW/ECW and a shit ton of other stuff like SNMEs, old RAW, old SD, LOW roundtables, etc.

[wildfire]

Aug 16, 2014 13:02:27 GMT -4 maddog1981 said:

I was in pretty early on Netflix Streaming. And it had it's problems but you could see the value in it by the amount of content there. With the WWE Network, I literally can log on and feel like there's nothing on worth watching. They just don't overwhelm you with the content and make it feel like there's good value there.

And they had to cut expenses because they are running so far behind their projections. They thought they were going to be well on their way to 1.5 million subscribers at this point and they're just under 700k. This is an epic level disaster for them on the financial front. They're trying to cut the budget to where a million subscribers is profitable and not just a break even point.

Content wise, that's a matter of opinion.  I had free netflix for a month when I got my PS3, and never used it... there was simply nothing on it I wanted to watch.  I've heard it's better now, but they still lost me to Amazon Prime, which I've used to watch probably $300-$400 worth of TV (if I purchased the DVDs) in 8 months, which is pretty good.    I think the Network is pretty great for the average fan, they just need MORE stuff.. they're great big holes in the old stuff that don't make sense.  If you want to get people on nostaligia, you have to have it available.

Personally, I've enjoyed what I've used of the WWE Network, and I still find it worth it, but I could see someone that has more free time going through everything they want to see by now.

They could also do a WAY better job cross promoting.   Instead of just mentioning it 100 times a show and TELLING us it's great... they should SHOW us.  Do an angle, then show us highlights of a similar one from 1998 with Stone Cold and someone.  THEN drop in your plug.  Do it once a show instead of 7 or 8 times... then you're dong something.