WWE Cuts Two More WWE Network Shows
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Tag: network
El Rey Exec on Lucha Underground Renewal: “Looks Good”
IGN recently interviewed Skip Chaisson, El Rey Network’s chief creative officer, about the potential of Lucha Underground being renewed for a fourth season. During the interview, Chaisson said the show’s future “looks good.” He would not confirm nor deny, however, the show itself being renewed.
Chaisson noted that one of the biggest talking points at the El Rey Network is where LU fits into their TV schedule going forward. Though he also noted that he and network head/famed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez love the show. “I can’t emphasize enough just how giving the wrestlers are,” he said, “and just working with Eric [Van Wagenen, Lucha Underground’s executive producer] and Chris [DeJoseph, co-executive producer] – it’s just so much fun.”
Luckily for LU, El Rey is still airing season 3 of the series. This leaves plenty of time for the network to decide the show’s future.
Updated WWE Network Subscriber Count Revealed
WWE revealed in their second-quarter earnings report that the WWE Network averaged 1.63 million paid subscribers over the second quarter of 2017. This number is up 8% from last year. 1.158 million were from the United States while 410,000 were international.
The earnings report revealed that there was also a 6% increase in revenue generated by the WWE Network and pay-per-view buys, which totals to $54.9 million. WWE Network subscription revenue increased 7% to $49.1 million from $45.9 million in the prior year quarter based on an 8% year-over-year increase in average paid subscribers to over 1.63 million.
WWE expects the average number of paid subscribers to drop to 1.54 million in the 3rd quarter.
Internal Concern Within WWE Over Recent Cutbacks
WWE is expected to announce their earning reports this Thursday and there is some internal concern within the company regarding those reports.
Bryan Alvarez discussed the earning reports on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Live and mentioned that he heard that employees within the company are worried, especially with the recent cutbacks. With the decision to cut pyros from weekly programming and cutting shows with low viewership from the network, has many concerned.
Speaking of pyros, Alvarez mentioned that the company spent millions of dollars on the WrestleMania 33 set, which attributed to the company cutting the pyros. The decision to drop pyros for the time being was a cost cutting measure and Alvarez indicated that there is a chance that WWE may bring the pyros back in the future.
WWE to Make Changes to 205 Live?
While talking about the cancellation of Talking Smack on Friday’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez indicated that the company may be making changes to some of it’s programming on the WWE Network.
It was previously reported that WWE decided to cancel Talking Smack because it wasn’t getting the viewership that the company was hoping for. Alvarez indicated that 205 Live could possibly be getting a change as well if fans don’t tune into the show. The general feeling right now is that not enough people are watching 205 Live, which could ultimately led to some changes before the year ends.
WWE Announces NXT Championship Title Match
WWE announced that NXT Champion Bobby Roode will defend his title against Roderick Strong at the July 5th NXT episode. Here is the announcement:
Bobby Roode to defend NXT Championship against Roderick Strong on July 5 episode of NXT
NXT Champion Bobby Roode will defend his title in a huge head-to-head showdown against Roderick Strong on the July 5 episode of NXT.
The Glorious One’s rivalry with Strong has intensified rapidly, with tensions reaching their boiling point on June 21 when a photo shoot erupted into a brawl between Roode and Strong.
This came after the titleholder and Strong had a war of words two weeks prior on NXT. Strong bared his soul to the NXT Universe, opening up about his journey into fatherhood and his desire to become NXT Champion, only to be met with ridicule and disrespect from Roode, who verbally tore down Strong’s title aspirations.
Following their backstage photoshoot throw down, the heated foes will now settle their differences inside the squared circle with NXT’s most prized possession on the line. Don’t miss this epic NXT Title contest on Wednesday, July 5, at 8/7 C, on the award-winning WWE Network.
Vince Russo’s The Brand Recap – Mayweather vs. McGregor, Where’s Finn Balor’s Demon? Who Gave The Big Show His Name? More!
Russo is joined on today’s show by his co-host Jeff Lane and Glenn Gilbertti (Disco Inferno).
Russo opens today’s show speaking about the announced match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. Russo thinks that McGregor’s youth could play more of a factor in this bout than people think, but Gilbertti says that McGregor has no chance in this fight whatsoever. Mayweather might be 40 years old, but he’s still in terrific shape and his age will not be a factor in this fight.
Russo believes that since this fight is scheduled for August, the hype surrounding it will have a negative impact on WWE and their build towards this year’s SummerSlam. Gilbertti doesn’t believe WWE will be affected by that because they have their niche audience, and those people are going to watch the product anyways.
Even though WWE’s television ratings continue to decline, Gilbertti doesn’t think WWE really cares about the ratings at this point, as long as their WWE Network numbers are still strong. The Network is their new major revenue stream, and the television ratings have taken a back seat. Gilbertti mentions that it’ll be interesting to see what happens to WWE’s shrinking ratings once Brock Lesnar and John Cena retire, because they’re WWE’s two biggest stars right now.
WWE Planning “Something Significant” for the UK Brand
Jim Ross briefly mentioned plans for the upcoming UK show for the WWE Network on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Radio. While Ross didn’t reveal many details, he did mention that there are plans to do “something significant” for the brand. Ross said that talks are still on-going and the belief is he is just waiting to find out himself.
As previously noted, there was speculation that WWE would be adding a weekly show to the WWE Network that would consist of UK Superstars. The show was rumored to be taped once a month overseas once a month, with the shows airing later on the Network.
Opening for Tonight’s RAW Revealed
WWE has announced that Brock Lesnar calling out Samoa Joe will open tonight’s episode of RAW. Here is what they wrote on their preview for the event:
Will Brock Lesnar bring the pain to Samoa Joe?
You should never intentionally provoke Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, and you definitely shouldn’t put your hands on his advocate, Paul Heyman. And yet, Samoa Joe accomplished both of those feats last Monday night on Raw when, in a difficult-to-watch show of force, he viciously locked Heyman in the Coquina Clutch.
The Samoan Submission Machine’s message was received by the Universal Champion, who will respond to his No. 1 contender’s sadistic attack tonight when Raw goes on the air at 8/7 C on USA Network. The juggernauts’ Universal Title clash at the debut WWE Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view event is still weeks away, but someone’s going to get burned tonight. Will it be Joe or Lesnar?