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[The Headliner]

Vince McMahon announced at today's investors conference call that they are moving forward at a fast pace on forming a WWE television network, similar to the NFL Network.

McMahon felt the network, which would take advantage of the company's large video library as well as create many opportunities for new progamming, would be operational within 18 months.  He felt the new network would be a "game changer" for the company.

In discussing the network, he hinted that some of the current programming may be moved to the network.  He said they would hope for Raw to remain on USA for years to come, and that Smackdown would have a major broadcast platform, whether it be MyNetwork TV or another national network.

He didn't go any farther from there.

Sounds interesting, but how would it affect the current "WWE 24/7" VOD service?

[The Headliner]

The latest on a WWE TV network is that the company is looking to launch it in about 18 months. They are looking at original non-wrestling programs to air along with wrestling features.

Different names have been suggested including The WWE Network, WWE S&E (for Sports & Entertainment), WWE 365, WWE.tv, WWE Net and WWE 24/7/365.

Which name would you choose?

[Hazzy]

That last one has a ring to it...

[Ethan]

A non wrestling feature to appear with wrestling features? I'm not sure what that would be then. Is this going to be the new home for their horrible movies?

[gungrave17]

i hope they put in a show about divas locker room, where they secretly tape divas in their locker room

[The Headliner]

WWE's cable network launch has been delayed by several months. The network was originally targeted to launch in early 2011 but the new date to go live is January of 2012.

That should give them time to make more WWE Films to fill up the schedule with repeats.

[The Headliner]

So the WWE Network was officially announced on the September 5th RAW Supershow:



As the launch draws closer we'll learn more about what's planned, but at the moment it seems they're even considering moving the Big 4 PPVs onto the WWE Network:

WWE issued a survey about their planned WWE Network launch in 2012 to select fans on their mailing list yesterday. Based on the following verbiage from the survey, one of the plans on board for the network (and this can ALWAYS change) is to move major WWE PPV events to the Network, where they would air, including Wrestlemania.

Yes, Wrestlemania.

The verbiage from the survey, which also features a number of other potential WWE network programming choices, reads:

"Imagine a 24-hour cable network that was run by The WWE. It featured a mix of WWE-made programs, including new shows, repeats of Raw and SmackDown from USA and Syfy and "classic" or "historical" programs featuring shows from different promotions like classic WWE footage, WCW, ECW, NWA, AWA, etc. from years past.

It would have two new weekly WWE live in-ring shows (wrestling), but not SmackDown or Raw.

It would have a daily live in-studio viewer interactive show similar to SportsCenter.

Additionally, this network would include WWE's "classic big 4" pay-per-view events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble to the lineup at no additional cost. Rather than having to pay for them, they would now be specials with the same match quality you're used to seeing on pay-per-view for no additional cost. These 4 events would only be available on The WWE Network.

In addition to The WWE Network, you would receive approximately 30 additional channels including NFL Network, NBA TV, Biography Channel, Fox Business Network and Fuel TV.

How interested would you be in upgrading your service for an additional $7-$12 per month to a tier which would include the WWE Network described above?"

Based on the verbiage, even if the plans don't come to fruition, it's obvious how much importance WWE is putting behind the Network launch. You don't consider taking the biggest money making event in your calendar off PPV and move it to a network (albeit a pay-per-view network) unless you want to do everything in your power to make a splash and show the power of the WWE brand. Such a move of even a few of the major PPV events, much less ALL of the major events would create a massive change in the revenue stream of the company. Such a drastic move will change the direction of the company, forever, to one that creates, owns and distributes their own content, as opposed to one that provides that content for broadcast partners. It's a bold move.

In other programming news that will bother few but is a shame nonetheless, as it's been a decent show whenever I've caught it:

WWE has canceled the online airings of WWE Superstars via WWE.com and Youtube.com. I am told the company has pulled it due to a declining amount of viewers. The series will still air internationally and obviously is a candidate to return Stateside when the WWE Network debuts.

[Hazzy]

Sounds cool, but doubt it will make it to the UK. I dunno how that kind of thing would work obviously, not being in the TV business 'n all, but if it's $12 a month in USA would they let Sky have it as a sports channel and take a share of the subscription fee for that maybe?

[The Headliner]

Sky wouldn't have much to gain by adding the channel for free - they've already got the wrestling fan demographic with RAW, SmackDown and pay-per-views on Sky Sports and Box Office, and those wouldn't be moving, so they wouldn't be drawing many extra customers to their platform.

So if there was a UK version of the WWE Network it would probably be an extra subscription like MUTV. And as Sky has exclusive contractual rights to air WWE programming on their channels, WWE would have to propose a very tasty deal in terms of sharing the subscription/advertising revenue before Sky would let them air shows on a network they don't own.

I'm no expert so I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it working. So I'm not holding my breath for it to happen over here.

[Illusion]

Maybe we'll get some kind of internet stream or something instead.  UFC does that sometimes when certain things aren't available on non-US channels.

[Matches Malone]

Aww, I was really hoping for the network to be on basic cable.

[gungrave17]

if they release it on canada, i might subscribe for that

[The Gopher]

The concept of a WWE network, in theory, is something that should be every wrestling fan's wet dream. I mean, they have at their exposure so much programming and content - this channel would be worth the price of admission for the archived ECW/WCW/Stampede footage alone, especially if they allowed these videos to air as close to their original form as possible.

However, when I read stuff about the WWE network possibly broadcasting the 'Big 4' - the only PPVs that are pretty much guaranteed to sale, I get a little apprehensive. Also, as a subscriber to this channel, I would hate to see shitty WWE movies or originally developed TV shows airing in place of actual wrestling footage... and knowing how WWE typically operates, I'd imagine that expansion into original programs/etc is somewhere in the back of the McMahon's heads.

Ah well, I don't even have cable, and likely will never subscribe to cable, so I suppose I should just shut up as this really has no impact on me. 

[The Headliner]

THE NAME OF THE FIRST PROGRAM ON THE WWE NETWORK WILL BE.....

Well, actually it's up to the fans.  WWE is running a poll to name the first show on the network, which is slated to launch next year.

They describe the program as being "a retrospective on the greatest entertainment spectacular of all time, WrestleMania. Each episode will transport you back to a single WrestleMania, starting with the Show of Show's thrilling debut at Madison Square Garden in 1985, all the way to WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami. Join us as we revisit each epic event through complete matches, never-before-seen footage, and in-depth commentary from the Superstars and Legends who've shared WWE's grandest stage."

The options for the name are:

WrestleMania Revisited
WrestleMania Rewind
WrestleMania Flashback
WrestleMania Review

You can vote by clicking here.

It'll be one of the first two.

[Matches Malone]

Always was a fan of the word "Revisited".