Guest Dmann2000 Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 What if when it came time for Viacom to renew its contract with the WWE, and they're about the same place they are currently, okay but not as good as they were, and Viacom decided to drop the WWE completely and cold from all its channels. USA wouldn't welcome them back they've reinvented themselves. I don't think FX would take them and TNT? Ha! That in my opinion would be the only REAL thing that would kill the WWE
Guest the pinjockey Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 On a bad week Raw is number two in the cable ratings so they would never have to worry about not getting picked up by another cable channel IMO. SD might be in trouble if they insist on keeping it a network show. A cable company would pick it up because like Raw on a bad week it would still get monster cable ratings. But if they want to keep it on network no ifs, ands, or buts I think they would lose that show.
Guest Dmann2000 Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Seriously though, what channel would pick them up. If Viacom refuses them, Time Warner refuses them and FOX refuses them, where to? BRAVO?!?
Guest Vern Gagne Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 What does FX have on Monday nights. Die Hard for the millionth time or Mash.
Guest the pinjockey Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 I don't think FX would be out of the question. I would not dismiss Time Warner as an option either. If TNT picked up Raw with having NASCAR, and first run reruns of network shows. They play them the week after they were on network or something along those lines right? They could dominate cable ratings.
Guest BigTim2002 Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Here's hoping that somebody is smart enough to do so. WWE programming boosts ratings a lot. I personally feel it would be good.
Guest Dmann2000 Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Well what I'm trying to say is what if cable companies conspired to kill wrestling. Would it work? I know in the real world most channels would jump at the chance to get WWE programing. But if TNN/Viacom, USA, FX and Time Warner all said no, where could the WWE go?
Guest the pinjockey Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 If cable companies conspired to kill any show it would work. If there is no outlet there is no show. But you would never get any of the cable companies to agree to this they want ratings. Besides if the existing ones were to do it a new cable company would probably come along (hell, possibly funded by McMahon) and snag WWF in a heartbeat and automatically be one of the top five cable stations at their inception.
Guest Eagan469 Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 I'd say Vince would finally get the "all-wrestling channel" off the ground. All he'd have to do is air the library of WWE/WWF/WCW programming 24/7 and collect the revenue from commercial time. RAW and Smackdown! could still air in the same time-slots.
Guest Brian Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 The ratings are still too good to pass up. And the deal isn't up for three years, so it's not worth really taking up.
Guest JHawk Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Isn't SmackDown only guaranteed through this season though?
Guest Choken One Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Turner may turn down down WWE but I really don't forsee Fox turning away WWE. FX is a great outlet that will allow WWE to go back to it's edgier days.
Guest IB2BLACK Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 Smackdown is UPN's highest rated show. It doesn't cost anything to put on, cause Vince pays for the costs, and it's always new; meaning it doesn't go on hiatus. You have a show that is "new" 52 weeks.
Guest MarvinisaLunatic Posted August 28, 2002 Report Posted August 28, 2002 I'd say Vince would finally get the "all-wrestling channel" off the ground. All he'd have to do is air the library of WWE/WWF/WCW programming 24/7 and collect the revenue from commercial time. RAW and Smackdown! could still air in the same time-slots. Odd factoid. After Lawler slapped the taste out of Andy Kaufman on Dave Letterman's show, Kaufman threatened to sue NBC for a ton of money and use it to buy NBC and turn it into a 24 hour Wrestling Channel. He never did sue cause it was just a big show...
Guest thebigjig Posted August 29, 2002 Report Posted August 29, 2002 Odd factoid. After Lawler slapped the taste out of Andy Kaufman on Dave Letterman's show, Kaufman threatened to sue NBC for a ton of money and use it to buy NBC and turn it into a 24 hour Wrestling Channel. He never did sue cause it was just a big show... While reading through this thread, I was thinking about bringing that up but you beat me to it! Anyway, that's a classic. Kaufman made such a great heel
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