6 Rings G.O.A.T.
Supporter
- Feb 11, 2006
- 136,475
- 117,566
After applying the code it's $14.99 + shipping.
Sucks for me they don't ship internationally.
I had to pull the trigger on that..
Wrestling Thread Jan 6-19 | 1/13 RAW - Bray & Daniel Wyatt v The Usos - MAKE YOUR 2014 PREDICTIONS!
- Thread in 'General' Thread starter Started by 4wrestling,
- Start date
I had to pull the trigger on that..
lobotomybeats
Supporter
- Jan 8, 2004
- 9,202
- 18,624
WWE Figured Out The Future of Television
It's tempting, if you're not a fan of grown men grappling, to dismiss last night's announcement of WWE's new digital streaming network. Don't. Because it's our best glimpse yet at what the future of television should look like.
To try to get across just how big—and how good—a deal the WWE Network is, here's a brief description of it denuded of the word "wrestling." In its place, swap in anything you love; sports, genres, individual channels, animals that think they're people. Your niche.
Here's a streaming network that offers a 30 year back catalog of [THING YOU LOVE]. Add in free access to live [THING YOU LOVE] events that normally cost in the neighborhood of $45 a pop and happen roughly once a month. On top of that, toss in some goofy original content about [THING YOU LOVE], every reality show format you can think of, reframed to specifically target [THING YOU LOVE] in a way that feels like a fever dream of access and delight. You can access this network on nearly any device that you own, perpetually just a few clicks away from [THING YOU LOVE] streaming in 720p.
And it costs ten bucks a month.
For the right person—the person the WWE network is targeting—that's insane. For the rest of us, it's a clear-eyed look at what an a la carte television utopia could be.
Paying for only the content you actually want to watch is the platonic ideal of television's future, but it ain't happening any time soon. The cable companies are too entrenched, the content deals too lucrative. Somehow, though—figure-four leglock?—WWE has bucked the system.
And it's not just that WWE has done it, it's how. One of the biggest a la carte television concerns is pricing; even if Disney were to spin off ESPN (they won't, but hypotheticals are fun!) it would cost you, conservatively, at least $20 a month. HBO Go (also not happening any time soon) would be even more. And WWE, frankly, would have been justified in offering its network at similarly sky-high pricing given its inclusion of pay per view streaming.
But it didn't. It went cheap, just slightly more than Netflix and Hulu Plus, for content whose MSRP is arguably significantly higher—though with much narrower focus—than what's offered on those. Again, think about what you'd rather pay for: Netflix and its vast but unpredictable movie library and unproven original series? Or the entirety of [THING YOU LOVE]?
Here's an even better idea. Cobble together Netflix, Hulu Plus, and couple of [THINGS YOU LOVE]. Throw in an antenna for HD broadcast networks, and amortize the cost over its lifetime. Congrats! You've got more content, highly targeted to your interests, for less than $40 a month.
And—not that this is something that you should worry about—it's going to work for WWE, too. By requiring six-month commitments from its customers, it prevents hit-and-run subscriptions targeted at ultra-cheap pay per view access. By producing a bunch of cheap reality shows, it gets to squeeze every last ounce of brand equity out of its stars aging, present, and future. And if even a million people sign up globally—WrestleMania brought in that many on its own last April—that's an extra $10 million of revenue every single month in Vince McMahon's pocket. That's a 10 percent lift. This is going to work.
Yes, we're a long, long way off from other [THINGS YOU LOVE] following suit. But how long before we see a Crunchyroll competitor do this for anime? How long before the UFC starts including its pay per view events in its own streaming service? How long before there are enough options at the TV buffet that you can finally cut the cord in good conscience?
The WWE might not be your cup of tea. That's fine. But what it's done with the WWE Network is light the path for other digital networks, other streaming solutions that aren't tethered to a bulky plan, that don't come laden with dozens of channels you couldn't care less about. And what comes next could very well be just the [THING YOU LOVE] you were waiting for.
It's tempting, if you're not a fan of grown men grappling, to dismiss last night's announcement of WWE's new digital streaming network. Don't. Because it's our best glimpse yet at what the future of television should look like.
To try to get across just how big—and how good—a deal the WWE Network is, here's a brief description of it denuded of the word "wrestling." In its place, swap in anything you love; sports, genres, individual channels, animals that think they're people. Your niche.
Here's a streaming network that offers a 30 year back catalog of [THING YOU LOVE]. Add in free access to live [THING YOU LOVE] events that normally cost in the neighborhood of $45 a pop and happen roughly once a month. On top of that, toss in some goofy original content about [THING YOU LOVE], every reality show format you can think of, reframed to specifically target [THING YOU LOVE] in a way that feels like a fever dream of access and delight. You can access this network on nearly any device that you own, perpetually just a few clicks away from [THING YOU LOVE] streaming in 720p.
And it costs ten bucks a month.
For the right person—the person the WWE network is targeting—that's insane. For the rest of us, it's a clear-eyed look at what an a la carte television utopia could be.
Paying for only the content you actually want to watch is the platonic ideal of television's future, but it ain't happening any time soon. The cable companies are too entrenched, the content deals too lucrative. Somehow, though—figure-four leglock?—WWE has bucked the system.
And it's not just that WWE has done it, it's how. One of the biggest a la carte television concerns is pricing; even if Disney were to spin off ESPN (they won't, but hypotheticals are fun!) it would cost you, conservatively, at least $20 a month. HBO Go (also not happening any time soon) would be even more. And WWE, frankly, would have been justified in offering its network at similarly sky-high pricing given its inclusion of pay per view streaming.
But it didn't. It went cheap, just slightly more than Netflix and Hulu Plus, for content whose MSRP is arguably significantly higher—though with much narrower focus—than what's offered on those. Again, think about what you'd rather pay for: Netflix and its vast but unpredictable movie library and unproven original series? Or the entirety of [THING YOU LOVE]?
Here's an even better idea. Cobble together Netflix, Hulu Plus, and couple of [THINGS YOU LOVE]. Throw in an antenna for HD broadcast networks, and amortize the cost over its lifetime. Congrats! You've got more content, highly targeted to your interests, for less than $40 a month.
And—not that this is something that you should worry about—it's going to work for WWE, too. By requiring six-month commitments from its customers, it prevents hit-and-run subscriptions targeted at ultra-cheap pay per view access. By producing a bunch of cheap reality shows, it gets to squeeze every last ounce of brand equity out of its stars aging, present, and future. And if even a million people sign up globally—WrestleMania brought in that many on its own last April—that's an extra $10 million of revenue every single month in Vince McMahon's pocket. That's a 10 percent lift. This is going to work.
Yes, we're a long, long way off from other [THINGS YOU LOVE] following suit. But how long before we see a Crunchyroll competitor do this for anime? How long before the UFC starts including its pay per view events in its own streaming service? How long before there are enough options at the TV buffet that you can finally cut the cord in good conscience?
The WWE might not be your cup of tea. That's fine. But what it's done with the WWE Network is light the path for other digital networks, other streaming solutions that aren't tethered to a bulky plan, that don't come laden with dozens of channels you couldn't care less about. And what comes next could very well be just the [THING YOU LOVE] you were waiting for.
- Mar 31, 2011
- 72,976
- 117,207
No Jimmy John's on the back of the Brock shirt? Wack.
- Jun 1, 2011
- 107,066
- 79,472
T0INE
formerly toine2983
- Dec 21, 2005
- 67,323
- 73,830
Such a maaaaaaan (Such a maaan)He's a maaaaaaan
- Oct 10, 2005
- 21,569
- 12,405
I really just want to watch the Attitude Era and most of those episodes are scattered around YouTube and other sites. I don't watch any PPVs nowadays either. I may grab it over summer though
Last edited:
- Oct 28, 2013
- 42,726
- 178,517
Yeaa....no.
- Jan 17, 2009
- 35,078
- 47,205
Sgt Slaughter head 
- Aug 4, 2005
- 35,033
- 16,945
It's good to see 4w posting on days other than Sunday and Monday [emoji]128522[/emoji]
- Jan 5, 2004
- 16,379
- 5,098
sure it is lol...
anyways, NXT is taping tonight... HHH anounced that the next tapings will air LIVE on the Network... I'm stoked....
T0INE
formerly toine2983
- Dec 21, 2005
- 67,323
- 73,830
- Oct 15, 2000
- 30,184
- 1,991
Thought it was Hitler at first
- Jul 4, 2009
- 14,019
- 2,783
Big E spitting bars 
jewbacca
Banned
- Jan 27, 2013
- 3,349
- 508
I personally would not buy the Hitler action figure...
- Jun 1, 2011
- 107,066
- 79,472
One of the worst wrestlers ever
- Aug 4, 2005
- 35,033
- 16,945
One of the worst wrestlers ever
In b4 DC comes in and precedes his argument on how much he loves Muta with "No gay stuff man..."
- Jun 1, 2011
- 107,066
- 79,472
Cool to see AJ embrace Kaitlyn knowing that was her last match, and before Tamina kicked her in the face
- Nov 24, 2009
- 53,493
- 21,079
I wish AJ gave me hugs like that.
- Jul 4, 2009
- 14,019
- 2,783
So Katylin going to TNA.
- Jan 3, 2013
- 29,390
- 27,904
Definitely in for the network.
- Dec 7, 2010
- 2,915
- 298
He's a real man's man
- Jun 1, 2011
- 107,066
- 79,472
From NXT, exactly 1 year ago today
Completely missed that NXT will be part of the WWE Network too
Completely missed that NXT will be part of the WWE Network too
- Oct 13, 2009
- 11,539
- 7,076
