
Status of WWE Network uncertain:
The status of the planned WWE network is uncertain and there is still no launch date for the project. There is currently no major interest from any Cable or satellite-television provider, which would mean WWE would have to make it an in-house paid subscription service, something that would need massive fan interest to be viable. Although the company has a remarkable track record in TV land, having produced the flagship Raw program successfully for nearly two decades, and drawing PPV audiences with consistency, there is still a general distaste for wrestling within the industry, particularly from advertisers and executives, who see it as beneath them.
Other subject specific networks such as the Oprah Winfrey Network have become a financial black hole, and upstarts like Al Gore’s Current TV have failed to gain the kind of audience expected. This all works against WWE.
If the company went the subscription route it would essentially just be a revamped “WWE Classics on Demand”, which would beg the question, what was the point? The company wanted to do a network because the potential advertising revenue and reach would be much higher than what they’ve done with the VOD model.
If something positive doesn’t happen soon all the money spent on staff and producing new programming could go to waste.
With failed projects like the World Bodybuilding Federation and the XFL, and the fact that WWE Studios only recently got its act together, one has to ask: Should WWE just stick to what they know? Solid weekly wrestling programming and PPVs?
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WWE reach overkill in possible NBC deal:
In what may prove to be overkill for some WWE fans, the company are negotiating with NBC Sports to produce yet more original wrestling programming, with hope of filling 1 to 2 hours a week on the channel. Coupled with the new Kid’s show Saturday Morning Slam on the CW Network, and the upcoming Main Event show debuting October 3rd, on ION, WWE could be pumping out at least 8.5 hours of programming a week domestically, and internationally much more.
The UK currently gets 10 hours of WWE a week, without factoring in the potential for the Kid’s show, Main Event or the NBC shows to begin airing.
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No wrestlers in Barricade:
For the first time WWE Studios have produced an original movie without one of the wrestling superstars trying their hand at acting. Here is the trailer for Barricade, an action-thriller to be released later this month, straight to DVD:
A psychiatrist (McCormack), seeking to find normalcy after the sudden passing of his wife, takes his two kids to a remote cabin for healing and bonding. Their joy soon turns to despair when the family is terrorized by unknown forces, and the father will stop at nothing to save them from peril.
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CM Punk/ The Rock feud heats up:
WWE continue the slow build towards a feud between The Rock and CM Punk by featuring “worked shoot” comments from Punk on the DVD release of The Rock vs John Cena documentary. When asked about The Rock main eventing, Punk states:
“It’s been a frustrating year. Not just for me but a lot of other Superstars. The Rock waltzes in and he wrestles two days a year. Rock says this place is family, well, I hang out with my family as often as I can.”
Category: Wrestling News |




