King Cucaracha 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Ok...I just started watching Raw on Friday, and during the Tag Title Match they had JR's dubbed voice over about Armageddon start up. Expecting him to say 'Don't miss Armageddon on Sky Box Office' or whatever, I kinda stopped listening...until he said that Armageddon won't be shown in the UK. So that's the first American PPV they haven't shown over here for years. With the Wrestling Channel just starting over here, I just hope Sky isn't thinking of dropping WWE programming because of the new channel...after all, the WWE has a healthy (considering the times) fanbase over here. Anyone know anything about this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toxxic 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Poor buyrates I believe - Rumble is due to be dropped as well. Hopefully they'll keep the ones on Sky Sports 1 even if they drop the ones they've been putting on Box Office. Give the Rumble back to Channel 4! Or even channel Five, hell, they put on WCW in it's dying days (complete with Batman-esque "Whack!" balloons over chairshots), surely they'd take WWE PPVs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garth 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Hell channel 5 might even get people actually watching it for once if they showed WWE. Channel 5 don't currently show anything worthwhile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toxxic 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Well they show football sometimes. Admittedly it's Johnathan Pearce commentating, but you take the rough with the smooth. But if I was Channel 5 I'd leap at the chance to show WWE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superstring 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Channel 5 had the chance to get the 4 PPV's (Armageddon, Rumble, Backlash & Venegance) when C4 dropped WWE programing and they weren't interested then so unless theres been a change in management they probably won't be interested now. No way C4 will want them back after the shit they got for broadcasting RR 2000 uncut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BOOT Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Channel 4 were wank jockeys anyway. I remember when they showed whatever event it was (the one when Christian twatted X-Pac with the bell after a match and he was bleeding like a bitch) delayed by 50 minutes and they even censored X-Pac's blood. Boy was I angry. However, this truly does suck. Im not fussed about Armageddon, but I really wich I wasnt going to miss the Rumble. Well, theyve got a month or so until then, maybe one of the channels will change their minds and pick it up. Not likely, but I can always dream. And on a side note, id take Johnathan Pearce over Ron Atkinson any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted December 13, 2003 I've been following the situation closely and it boils down to WWE being very, very greedy. Basically, Sky only have the rights to 8 PPV's a year - they show these for free. Sky's contract runs out in 2005. Once Channel 4 dropped out, Sky picked up the other 4 PPV's on a PPV-by-PPV basis - i.e., once they come around, Sky contact WWE and because there is no-one else to show them WWE say Sky can show them on Sky Box Office for £15 a pop and they share revenue. However, when they came to Armageddon, WWE told Sky they could have Armageddon to show on box office...as long as they make EVERY OTHER PPV in 2004 available only on Sky Box Office. Like say, greedy bastards. Sky are not obligated to this - they have the rights to show the PPV's for free and this would irate all Sky subscribers. WWE have been inisistent and hence we have a stand-off. So don't direct any anger towards Sky - they are on our side - channel it solely at Titan Towers where they are trying to make up for lower revenue streams in North America by pumping out the same shit to its international audience at a premium price. Its disgraceful if you ask me. WWE Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Peter_Griffin Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Channel 5 DID show Scotland getting fucked over by the Dutch 6-0 ( yes I'm Scottish ) and that was good for a laugh. Channel 4 won't take WWE back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garth 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Looks like i'll either get the webcast of download it off bit torrent but that will take a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garth 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Looks like i'll either get the webcast of download it off bit torrent but that will take a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Metallica Report post Posted December 13, 2003 Hell channel 5 might even get people actually watching it for once if they showed WWE. Channel 5 don't currently show anything worthwhile. Yeah they do, they have CSI, CSI Miami and the Law & Order franchise. CSI is an awesome show Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clean rob 0 Report post Posted December 14, 2003 So now WWE will get exactly nothing off the UK audience for Armageddon (except for what I can only assume will be a very small number getting the webcast). Great job shooting themselves in the foot there. I'm not too pissed off about missing this PPV as it looks shit, but I'd hate to miss the Rumble. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest I Got Banned for Sucking Report post Posted December 14, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted December 14, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Whats it like to be an Australian Rugby fan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin EC Report post Posted December 14, 2003 I wouldn't have bought the PPV but they've taken away Live Heat from us! Bastards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toxxic 0 Report post Posted December 14, 2003 WWE told Sky they could have Armageddon to show on box office...as long as they make EVERY OTHER PPV in 2004 available only on Sky Box Office. Like say, greedy bastards. Sky are not obligated to this - they have the rights to show the PPV's for free and this would irate all Sky subscribers. WWE have been inisistent and hence we have a stand-off. So don't direct any anger towards Sky - they are on our side - channel it solely at Titan Towers where they are trying to make up for lower revenue streams in North America by pumping out the same shit to its international audience at a premium price. Its disgraceful if you ask me. WWE Well now - that changes it completely. For some reason I was thinking it was Sky being greedy (Murdoch? Greedy? Never!) rather than WWE being greedy (McMahon? Insane? NEVER!). Big up to Sky for not making everyone pay for the other 8 PPVs then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Cucaracha 0 Report post Posted December 14, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Whats it like to be an Australian Rugby fan? Damn, beat me to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Random Hero Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Whats it like to be an Australian Rugby fan? Heh heh...nice one buddy. Of course he could bring up Cricket, but who gives a shit about Cricket? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Of course he could bring up Cricket, but who gives a shit about Cricket? Exactly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Der Kommissar 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2003 hell, they put on WCW in it's dying days (complete with Batman-esque "Whack!" balloons over chairshots), You know...I might actually consider ordering a WWE PPV if they did something like that. That would be GOLD~! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ultra Violence 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Whats it like to be an Australian Rugby fan? Heh heh...nice one buddy. Of course he could bring up Cricket, but who gives a shit about Cricket? Yet again who actually gave a shit about Rugby until we won the world cup? About 5 people? Oh well anything to piss off the convicts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deancoles 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Haha! Now the poms can feel what it was like to be an Australian WWE fan for 7 months! Oh, and take SmackDown! from them for about a year or so, and there you'll have it! Whats it like to be an Australian Rugby fan? Heh heh...nice one buddy. Of course he could bring up Cricket, but who gives a shit about Cricket? Yet again who actually gave a shit about Rugby until we won the world cup? About 5 people? Oh well anything to piss off the convicts I was the one of the few who cared.I had wilko in my sig until i found that liontamer pic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OnlyMe Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Yet again who actually gave a shit about Rugby until we won the world cup? About 5 people? Yup... you're right. Ask people to name a player that isn't Wilkinson, and watch their face drop... Nik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest webmasterofwrestlegame Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Oh don't get me wrong - I still think Rugby sucks. Just makes a change for England to be World Champs at something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheFranchise 0 Report post Posted December 16, 2003 Yet again who actually gave a shit about Rugby until we won the world cup? About 5 people? Yup... you're right. Ask people to name a player that isn't Wilkinson, and watch their face drop... Nik Yes.... but in 98% of world countires, ask them to name a player who isn't Owen, Beckham or maybe Rooney, same problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OnlyMe Report post Posted December 16, 2003 But then they aren't from England. Nik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Random Hero Report post Posted December 16, 2003 I couldn't really care less about rugby either, I'd be happy if we beat the Aussies at polo or rounders. I reckon I can name about 6 England rugby players and I have no interest whatsoever, and didn't watch any of the world cup games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites