Heat, Velocity, WWE Experiance coming to USA?

[Guest wootman]

Well, I found this at the Voice of Wrestling message board.

 

USA Network Gets into 'Characters'

(Thursday, June 23 02:40 PM)

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Cable's USA Network has lived for a quarter-century as a general-entertainment channel without feeling a need to brand itself as the Channel for [insert Niche Here]. That's no longer the case.

While the NBC Universal-owned network isn't undergoing a wholesale identity change, it's hoping to cement its place as a home for original series, sports and movies under the slogan "Characters Welcome." The branding campaign, which includes a new, lower-case logo, will begin on the channel next month.

 

"When we started developing a brand strategy we knew we wanted it to be enhancing rather than limiting. We didn't want to tack on a meaningless tagline or claim an arbitrary niche or demo," says Bonnie Hammer, president of the USA Network and sister channel Sci Fi. "I believe we've succeeded in developing a campaign that's organic to USA, something that captures and communicates what the network is about."

 

"Characters Welcome" is a flexible enough tagline that it can encompass much of USA's programming. The network has several original series -- "Monk" and "The 4400" among them -- that draw strong ratings and features a decent slate of sports programming ranging from golf and tennis to Olympic trials. Additionally, World Wrestling Entertainment, which is all about over-the-top characters, will return to the network in the fall.

 

New franchises are set to come aboard like NBC Universal's brand new NBC Sports deal syndicating live telecasts on the new USA. One of cable's most highest rated programs that being WWE Raw will refurbish it's brand also and will debut this October on USA where it brought some of the highest ratings in cable history. WWE will also bring Experience, Heat, and Velocity over and including one more WWE program that will begin in the near future. NHL Hockey is also in negotiations. Arena Football will organte some of it's coverage onto USA. The Winter Olympics will set off the fever for USA this February. More franchises will be picked up for USA.

 

"[W]e realized that there was real connective tissue around the concept of strong, relatable characters," says Chris McCumber, head of marketing for the network. "'Characters Welcome' delivers a clear message that establishes an immediate emotional connection with our audience." USA Network currently enters 88 million households. The new usa will start up on Friday July 8, 2005.

 

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/...6009|1|,00.html

 

When you see the link, the second to last paragraph is not on that page. Apparently, registered members of the site get those extra insider newsbits. Hopefully zap2it.com is accurate and this isn't an oversight.

 

I must admit that I've began to cherish these last episodes of WWE Velocity and Heat.

Or so I thought these last few months would be the last few episodes. If Heat and Velocity are gone, it would really screw a lot of the lower card workers. And if they aren't released, you could go weeks without seeing Akio or Funaki.

 

If this indeed true, I wonder what the fourth show would be? Hopefully finally a wrestling nostalgia show. It could be called WWE 24/7 or something, which could maybe be like a teaser for WWE 24/7 service.

[Guest Ronixis]

This is a shock. ONE more WWE Show? What in the world they are planning if not a ECW return (possibly the legends division or the return of the Ross Report-or the Coach Report)

 

But I know for certain that eather the Bottom Line or Afterburn is gone after September.

[Guest Dale Earnhardt]

The 4th show could be some other 2 hour program that holds the place of SmackDown until the deal expires with UPN. It would help WWE quite a bit if all of their shows were on one network.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

OMG..RAW's going to be pre-empted for the Winter Olympics in february..