By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
The future of WWE is examined in a Variety.com feature that acknowledges that FOX, Amazon, and Facebook are among the potential suitors for the company’s television programming. “We are incredibly happy with our partnership with USA [Network],” Stephanie McMahon said regarding potential suitors. “In terms of what the future might hold, I guess we’ll see, but we’ve been very, very happy and I hope NBC is happy as well.”
Stephanie also stated that the company does not intend to broadcast Raw or Smackdown on WWE Network at this time. “We leverage a content ecosystem, so at the moment, it is absolutely relevant and necessary to have [our content] on linear platforms,” she said. “It is still reaching a broad audience and it’s still our most profitable line of business. One piece doesn’t work without the other. Ultimately, would Raw and Smackdown go to the WWE Network? Maybe. But that’s certainly not where we are now.” Read more at Variety.com.
Powell’s POV: The story also mentions the possibility of WWE being sold. Vince McMahon first addressed the possibility in the October 27, 2016 quarterly conference call. “We’re business people,” McMahon said. “We’re listening.”
When it comes to the television deal, WWE stands to benefit if they have real interest from more than one party and that leads to a bidding war. The idea of Raw and Smackdown airing exclusively on WWE Network makes no sense as long as there are outside parties willing to pay big money for the WWE television rights. Furthermore, airing the shows exclusively on the network would make it difficult for the company to attract new viewers. In other words, it’s no surprise that WWE isn’t viewing that as a realistic option at this time.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque and NBCUniversal’s Chris McCumber are also quoted in the story. McCumber heaped praised on WWE programming for bringing an audience to USA Network’s other shows, which is the opposite of what USA Network executives were saying when they lost WWE programming to TNN (later Spike, now Paramount Network).
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