Before they launched their Network, the WWE ran on a pay per view model. This model was introduced to wrestling and successfully implemented by Vince McMahon in his vision of national dominance. They first had WrestleMania and then Survivor Series, before SummerSlam and Royal Rumble followed suit. With the advent of a subscription based model, however, Vince McMahon took yet another risk and gave the fans a WWE network that charged them the cost of around two pay per views while providing them the platform to watch their product all through the year, including their pay per views.
Also read: Which Match Will Main Event the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event?
The WWE was long synonymous with pay per views, so much so that if you visit PayPerView.com, you’ll be directed to the WWE network. However, the WWE decided to do away with it and provide all their content to fans for a small monthly fee.
There are a lot of things that the WWE has done poorly, but the network, is one, that the fans simply can’t get enough of. However, now that there are talks of the WWE gong private, what will that mean for the network and its distribution of their Premium Live Events?
Will WWE go back to $60 PAY-PER-VIEW model after being sold?
Vince McMahon has returned to the WWE to help facilitate its sale. A number of prospective buyers have emerged. However, there doesn’t seem to be any name leading the pack as of now. Regardless, Dave Meltzer, while speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, discussed the possibility of fans paying an entry fee to the network and then a separate amount for the pay per view once the company was sold.
He reasoned this by citing the example of UFC that was still charging a separate pay per view price. However, he added that this would probably only apply to the big four pay per views and not all the monthly Premium Live Events.
“Yes, it’s possible. If it’s Endeavor, because of UFC, I believe that they would absolutely look into the possibility of it. Because look at what they do with UFC and they’re similar businesses.
I don’t believe it will be done. Now what could be done, the idea of pulling maybe WrestleMania, Royal Rumble (and) SummerSlam, and making them pay-per-views but keeping the other ones on the Network.
He also talked about Peacock not wanting to go ahead with it because for the amount of money they pay WWE, they would definitely want WrestleMania on their streaming service. The WWE would also stand to make more with their current deal in comparison to taking WrestleMania back to Pay Per View.
WWE plan to remove independent Wrestling content from Peacock
The WWE beefed up their network with content from independent wrestling promotions they had a working relationship with. This was done because there were reportedly plans to have different tiers of content. While that never happened, they still went ahead with the indie content. However, it appears that the company is now doing away with them.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported that the promotion will discontinue indie content on their network and Peacock.
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