Maybe this will only interest me, but wanted to start a thread for comments on the earnings and news coming out of today’s call.
Also, if people have questions, maybe @wai0937 can bring these up with Brandon Thurston on the Cafe call today:
One question - and thought - I’ve been on about is how much Vince McMahon (and the family) lost on paper and what investors can read into that with regards to the seriousness to make a decision to remove Wilson/Barrios. How serious are the issues or disagreements to cut off their nose to spite its face.
If he was willing to lose X millions of dollars to make this change, and subsequently cost investors millions of dollars, how does the WWE convey confidence in its Chairman to be making such decisions on their behalf. Yes, the Board is cited in the release, but does he not have total power given his voting rights?
At some point you invest beyond numbers and in people and the confidence you have and Vince now seems like a total untrustworthy corporate leader.
1.42 as of Q4 is down from Q1/Q2/Q3 2019
It is also down from every other period over the last 4 years except Q1 2016 and Q4 2016.
This is the 3rd lowest quarter in the last 4 years. I think you misunderstood what Meltzer was saying. Seems like he was rounding, and I don’t understand how anyone could look at that and say it is good when the entire point of the WWE Network is to grow subs. All the investment in talent, in a new platform.
If you have any interest in this stuff and want to see incredible graphics on it - go follow today’s POST Wrestling Cafe gues @BrandonThurston on Twitter. He is the man for all of this.
Nope. Call is over. Just difference in philosophy.
It was said my meltzer it’s over talent pay. Vince is in wartime mode - stockpile talent and overpay people like Edge and Revival.
Barrios and Wilson wanted to maximize profit and didn’t understand paying what are basically job guys on their show (is Revival) that much. They were around for the MNW and didn’t get the added talent costs hurting their bottom line
Barrios/Wilson : Vince, why am I out? Vince : You’re not a wartime consigliere. Things may get rough with the move we’re trying.
I think Vince did quell the tide a bit. He was open to selling PPVs again. He peaked everyone’s interest. He was adamant that this had nothing to do with XFL. He did a good job
the move is about the only thing though, NXT is the same show just longer. IT was already being referred to as the third brand long before AEW went to TV at least (HHH "Global Touring Brand.). I’m not saying they haven’t made any changes to where things are presented. But NXT as a show is largely the same show it always has been just longer. RAW and SD the main part of the product are entirely unaffected (sadly). As for Rusev stuff it is still largely PG. They kiss, and talk. No real swearing, no undergarments. I cannot think of much that would raise the rating much.
I still cant believe that Mania is free or $9.99 or whatever on the network. They really should experiment by removing some of the big shows from the network. It’s already an amazing value.
I don’t necessarily agree with that. I could see USA pursing it after losing smackdown to replace that content. I mean if you are WWE unless you feel like it would cost you network money, why wouldn’t you try to get more money for the product?
I could maybe see the big shows being extra money on the Network (discounted PPV rates), but I think it is hard to go back without damaging the Network as the “free PPVs” is probably the #1 attraction for most people.