Prediction: WWE Continues to Ostracize PPV Providers
Despite the fact that Battleground is still mercifully being offered by most major cable providers, WWE is intent on pissing them off by only advertising the show as “LIVE, only on the WWE Network”. And I understand – why would you pay $60 when you could pay $10? But at this point, saying things like “don’t buy this on PPV” is just a slap in the face to the companies that DON’T NEED to continue offering your show on their services. And who knows, maybe that’s what WWE wants. If they get rid of all the cable providers, maybe they think all their viewers will go and sign up for the Network. Most probably will.
But what happens if the WWE Network fails, and in a year or two they have to scrap the idea and fall back to traditional methods? What happens when they don’t break even, and the cost of running the Network just isn’t being met by an underwhelming amount of subscribers? What happens if the stock prices keep falling, and Vince McMahon really is outed from his position of CEO – you laugh, but technically a board of directors could make that happen. If the Network folds, how many of those ostracized cable provider CEO’s are going to pick up WWE on PPV again? Some might…some won’t. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you are so aggressive at selling your product, that you piss off everyone who got you to the mountain top.
Drinking Game: drink every time the WWE Network is mentioned
