Okay, do all the haters feel adequately smug now that they've had some time to run down this addition? Personally, I still have fond memories of watching WWF as a kid and will occasionally check out a match or two but to each their own.
What is undeniable is that wrestling is huge business (often the #1 rated cable show) and they are taking an enormous gamble with this delivery model. Other content providers are satisfied dipping their toe into digital distribution while WWE is going all-in. They are essentially taking their very profitable PPV business behind the shed and putting it down in hopes that they get more casual fans to sign up and be invested in the product at the expense of getting less revenue from their hardcore fans (the guys who order each $50 PPV). They are burning bridges with the networks that carry their weekly shows, the cable and satellite companies who make big dough distributing the PPVs, their own DVD/BluRay divisions all in the hopes of cutting out the middle man. Make no mistake, this is one of the biggest digital launches to date and other content providers will be watching this closely.
Remember, VHS beat Betamax in part because they were willing to license their tech to the adult industry (and because you could get 6 hours on a single tape). You may not like the WWE but you have to admire their gumption.
What is undeniable is that wrestling is huge business (often the #1 rated cable show) and they are taking an enormous gamble with this delivery model. Other content providers are satisfied dipping their toe into digital distribution while WWE is going all-in. They are essentially taking their very profitable PPV business behind the shed and putting it down in hopes that they get more casual fans to sign up and be invested in the product at the expense of getting less revenue from their hardcore fans (the guys who order each $50 PPV). They are burning bridges with the networks that carry their weekly shows, the cable and satellite companies who make big dough distributing the PPVs, their own DVD/BluRay divisions all in the hopes of cutting out the middle man. Make no mistake, this is one of the biggest digital launches to date and other content providers will be watching this closely.
Remember, VHS beat Betamax in part because they were willing to license their tech to the adult industry (and because you could get 6 hours on a single tape). You may not like the WWE but you have to admire their gumption.