WWE Network Moves To Peacock

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we discuss the WWE Network moving to Peacock.

Did the WWE Network reach its full potential?

Chad Gelfand: It didn’t fully reach the levels that WWE thought it would from a subscriber standpoint and some of the interface could be kind of wonky at times, but the library of content on there is incredible. It’s a treasure chest of wrestling history and behind-the-scenes footage, so from a content perspective, it has absolutely been a success.

Juan Bautista: I don’t think the WWE Network reached its potential. It always seemed like there were update problems. The content was there, but it lacked in the execution.

David Gibb: No, not at all. There’s still a lot left on the table in terms of companion pieces to historical content, mining the vault and developing added value content that complements the weekly/monthly product.

Jack Goodwillie: Yes. Unlike subscription services like Netflix and Hulu, you’ll always have access to everything you see on the WWE Network, and that’s pretty powerful. On top of that, it delivered on all the behind-the-scenes content I could possibly take in. Did it ever deliver on the rumors of becoming a home for independent promotions like Progress or ICW much in the same way UFC Fight Pass does? Not exactly, but there’s only so much wrestling I can take in at one time.

John Corrigan: Not even close. WWE Network started off strong with original content and archived footage, but after a couple years it seemed that whoever was in charge got bored with updating it. I also hate the redesign because it’s harder to find what I want.

Did WWE jump the gun with the Network in 2014?

Gelfand: WWE did cost itself in the short term by putting all the PPVs on the Network for just $9.99 per month. However, it seems to have paid off in the long term as WWE jumped on having a streaming service early, and that seems to be the direction every other media company is going in now.

Bautista: No, but WWE didn’t explore all of its options. It could’ve offered PPVs like TLC as an actual Network exclusive while keeping the Big Four on actual pay-per-view.

Gibb: No, WWE was very shrewd with its timing. The company understood its core audience were early adopter types to begin with and set the price point where they wanted it before the market was flooded with services offering more diverse content for less money.

Goodwillie: Not at all. The Network had actually been in the works for a number of years. Remember, DirecTV subscribers got WWE 24/7 as a holdover for the Network, and at the time, a network dedicated entirely to pro wrestling content felt like a pipe dream. To have it all come to fruition in the way it did was awesome to see, and the sheer amount of content WWE was able to offer out of the gate made it well worth the price of admission.

Corrigan: No, but the biggest mistake from WWE’s standpoint was not keeping WrestleMania off the Network. Imagine how much money WWE pissed away by letting us watch the usually $50-$60 event for just $10.

Since the USA Network will be incorporating more sports with the shutdown of NBCSN, how do you think Raw will be prioritized during peak season?

Gelfand: If there’s a playoff hockey game, then Raw gets pre-empted, but other than that, it will be left alone for the most part.

Bautista: It will be interesting to see what TV contracts NBC gets. The only thing that would probably cause an issue immediately would be the NHL playoffs.

Gibb: I don’t know that NBCUniversal really sees Raw as “sports” considering that it never moved Raw to a sports channel. I really don’t expect NBCUniversal to build around WWE; this is just a content acquisition deal.

Goodwillie: Same as always. NBCSN was most known for Sunday Night Football and NHL, as well as some minor sports, so that’s not really going to conflict with Raw on Monday nights. However, I would be curious to see how WWE PPVs are going to work running concurrently with Sunday Night Football on the same streaming platform/parent network.

Corrigan: Raw won’t be prioritized because it’s not a sport. It’s an “entertainment” show and I’m using that term lightly.

What is the ceiling with Peacock being the home of WWE?

Gelfand: This partnership may be a gateway for some casual or lapsed fans to check out wrestling again. If they’re a Peacock subscriber and they see an old WWE PPV, it may lead them to check out the current product.

Bautista: The ceiling is very high because the product can’t get any worse. As far as promoting and marketing, there will be a much-needed boost.

Gibb: In terms of distribution and eyeballs, the sky’s the limit. NBCUniversal/Comcast is really the last bastion of traditional broadcasting and have done a better job than the other networks transitioning toward streaming. In terms of what we’ll get as fans, I don’t see any reason to get overly excited.

Goodwillie: About the same. Peacock has not caught on the way other streaming platforms have. Hulu and Netflix, together, have an all-star lineup of movies, TV shows and original content. Disney+ has the entire Disney library of animation and live-action movies and TV shows. Peacock has what? NBC’s content? Which is largely watered down, anyway? Before this weekend, nobody cared about Peacock. They’re trying to build it with the cancellation of NBC Sports and by moving their football games to the platform, because let’s face it, Sunday Night Football is a big draw. You know what else is a big draw? The WWE Network. So, this is more of a situation of what The Network can do for Peacock as opposed to what Peacock can do for The Network.

Corrigan: I can’t imagine what will really change in terms of WWE Network content. Right now, I’m just flabbergasted that we’re actually getting it cheaper than before.

What is something that you would like to see done with the expanded partnership with WWE and NBC?

Gelfand: Give the wrestlers and employees pay raises. This is a massive $1 billion deal that WWE signed, and I’d love to see wrestlers past and present get compensated for their work that went into building up a library that is worth that much money.

Bautista: I would like to see Saturday Night’s Main Event return to its former glory on NBC. As far as the USA Network goes, I would like to see a PPV like Payback or Fastlane be aired on network television.

Goodwillie: The return of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Corrigan: The return of Saturday Night’s Main Event replacing an SNL rerun, but unlike the 2006 revival, this should be PPV-quality like in the old days. For instance, Brock Lesnar should actually wrestle there.

Do you anticipate within the next five years that NBC Universal purchases WWE?

Gelfand: I can’t see that happening. WWE seems like a business that the McMahons want to keep in the family and have control over, so I can’t see them ever selling it.

Gibb: Vince McMahon used to fancy himself “the Walt Disney of wrestling.” I think he will hold out for the right sale to Disney, just for the prestige of being able to say the name on the way out the door.

Bautista: It wouldn’t surprise me. NBC has made a significant investment and it probably wants to see what it has.

Goodwillie: There will be a purchase of WWE and its assets, but not for another 10 years. When that time comes, there will be a number of players, not just NBC Universal. I expect FOX will take a swing at it, as will Disney. After all, Disney has shown a willingness to pay whatever it costs for any intellectual property of any remote level of popularity while finding a way to come out in the black in the end. Picture this: a WWE theme park within the confines of Disneyland not unlike Nintendo Land or Harry Potter World. I’m not saying Disney will take a stab at WWE, but it should be the favorite if it decides to throw its name in the hat.

Corrigan: Maybe not within the next five years, but certainly whenever Vince McMahon is ready to leave us mortals.