WWE officials are currently working on plans for big changes to the WWE Network.

The current plan calls for changes to be implemented in 2019, according to PWInsider. Vince McMahon is said to be personally overseeing the process and is working on a one-on-one basis with Kevin Dunn and Chief of Staff Brad Blum on ways to change WWE’s original programming strategies, which would see the roll-out of the long-planned tiered version of the Network along with new, interactive aspects.

It’s no secret that WWE has talked about introducing tiered subscription levels to the Network, similar to Hulu and other streaming platforms. The idea is that viewers can pay more money for commercial-free programming. There’s no word yet on what these tiers may consist of but they could be similar to what was being considered in 2016.

One plan considered in 2016 would have been free with 5 hours of archived material, 5 five-minute video clips and a 24/7 live stream that would include WWE content without pay-per-view events, WWE NXT and the Cruiserweight Classic. The free package would feature commercials and would be available for viewing on all devices. The second plan considered in 2016 was to be priced at $4.99 per month with the WWE Network as it exists now, with the exception of NXT and their Takeover specials. It would have included limited commercials and access to the “big four” pay-per-view events, a Video-On-Demand proponent that would add all new WWE “live events” (presumably RAW, SmackDown, etc.) 30 days after their original air date, but only accessible on tablets and mobile phones. The third plan considered in 2016 was priced at the current rate of $9.99 and would have included the Network as it exists now, except NXT would have aired live each week. That third plan would have included limited commercials. The final plan being considered back in 2016 was to be priced at $14.99 monthly. This would have included a commercial-free version of the Network with all current features, live NXT airings, a weekly Cruiserweight Classic series plus access to “independent wrestling content such as TNA and Ring of Honor” along with extra “Fan Perks” such as offline content downloading, early ticket ordering, invitations to exclusive in-person VIP meet-ups, the chance to vote for the WWE Hall of Fame, small group chats, exclusive second-screen experiences.

WWE gauged fans for feedback on more potential Network services in 2017, including new, original programming as part of a premium-pried tier. This would have included live events, audio content with sports radio-style call-in shows and WWE music & podcasts, tournaments to air from different regions such as Mexico and Canada, “regional independent wrestling promotions”, some programming that would be edgy or rated TV-14 (including a tease for another ECW revival), comedy programming (including Superstar Roasts and Southpaw Regional Wrestling), and original dramas (described then as WWE’s version of Game of Thrones).

WWE officials have been working hard at mapping out the future of original programming on the WWE Network and all existing & announced programming will likely move forward as planned but the door is said to be wide open for other types of programming to premiere beyond that. Any content that falls under the original programming category is in a bit of a review period while they determine how that programming will be used on the Network in the future, if it will be used. WWE has issued several Fan Council surveys over the past year or so to get feedback on potential Network programming. We can expect to see more of those surveys as they work to lock-in these new strategies.

There’s no solid word yet on when these major Network changes could be revealed but word is that they hope to lock in the future Network strategies within in the next month or so, if not sooner. The idea is to implement these changes in early 2019. The WWE Network launched in February 2014 and an early 2019 roll-out could be a good way to mark the 5th anniversary.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE officials have made the decision to hold off on adding WCW Thunder and WWE Sunday Night Heat to the WWE Network, according to PWInsider. Regarding Thunder, the delay is likely due to ongoing legal issues with Buff Bagwell and Scott Levy (Raven) suing the company over royalties on WWE Network content. Thunder was said to be ready to go but they are adding new WCCW episodes instead. The WCCW additions will be promoted with an “Everything Bigger In Texas” theme. No word yet on the Heat delay but it was set to be added before the end of the year.

Source: WrestlingINC

There are major cutbacks going on all over WWE right now, including the cancellation of WWE Network programs and no longer doing the pyro at shows.

Dave Meltzer stated on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE “promised everyone” they were going to have bigger profits in 2017 than they had in 2016 and they’re not anywhere close.

“So last year’s profits were about $30 million,” said Meltzer on the August 1, 2017 episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. “And this year we’re about halfway through and — I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me – but it’s like five or six million, which means there’s a lot of catching up to do.”

This is believed to be the reason why there is no longer a pyro at WWE shows and a lot of shows on the WWE Network are getting canceled, in an attempt to lower production costs.

“They’re not in any financial trouble but the Network subscriber number is a genuine disappointment,” explained Meltzer. “The growth coming out of WrestleMania that would have been expected wasn’t there.”

One thing that has not helped the growth of the WWE Network is doing brand specific pay-per-views for RAW and SmackDown but it’s not expected that WWE is going to go back to just one pay-per-view a month.

“The one thing that we have learned is that the two pay-per-views a month, that has not helped,” said Meltzer. “The Network number is not growing the way they expected it to so that’s been a bad situation. But I don’t think they want to drop one of the pay-per-views because I think that would hurt ratings a little bit.”

More cutbacks are expected in WWE and it’s one of the reasons why the company has been slow on the United Kingdom show. Dave Meltzer noted their tournament to crown a WWE United Kingdom Champion earlier this year cost a lot of money and the show will mean spending a lot of money for more tapings every month.

Source: WrestlingINC