Author Topic: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal  (Read 3568 times)

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WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« on: January 25, 2021, 11:49:28 AM »

Offline nickagneta

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For those wrestling fans amongst us

https://wmgk.com/2021/01/25/wwe-network-streaming-rights-purchased-by-nbcuniversal-service-headed-to-peacock/

Quote
Per Variety, “WWE and NBCU reached a multiyear agreement giving Peacock exclusive streaming rights to WWE Network for American viewers. The over-the-top wrestling entertainment service’s existing U.S. subscribers (about 1.1 million in total) will be migrated over to Peacock Premium, where they’ll continue to get access to WWE Network but will pay 50% less per month while getting full access to the version of the Peacock Premium tier with ads.”

While the exact cost of this new partnership was not disclosed by NBCUniversal or WWE, Sports Business Daily is reporting this new five-year deal is worth just north of $1 billion.

WWE Network will launch under Peacock on March 18. At that time, Peacock will feature over 17,000 hours of “new, original, and library programming” content and will also launch a special 24-hour channel on the service.

Additionally, Peacock will host all of WWE’s monthly live events/PPVs, including WrestleMania, a feature that made WWE Network so appealing upon its initial launch. The first WWE event to stream live under Peacock will be Fastlane, which is taking place Sunday, March 21.

As for a cost breakdown, Variety notes, “WWE Network will be available on Peacock Premium (which includes ads) for $4.99 per month, half the price of WWE Network’s current $9.99/month pricing. The no-commercials Peacock Premium Plus plan, which costs $9.99/month, also will include WWE Network.”

I guess I will be able to save $5 a month while also picking up all that Peacock makes available. Too sweet.

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2021, 11:55:26 AM »

Offline boscel33

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Great, NBCUniversal is buying the WWE network and shuttering NBCSports Channel.  #headscratcher
"There's sharks and minnows in this world. If you don't know which you are, you ain't a shark."

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2021, 12:06:52 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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Great, NBCUniversal is buying the WWE network and shuttering NBCSports Channel.  #headscratcher
If they view the WWE Network as profitable as a streaming service addition to the Peacock Streaming Service and NBCSN is an unprofitable television network, it makes complete sense, especially if the only thing worth watching on NBCSN were the national NHL games that can be put on much higher viewed networks they own, like the USA Network.

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2021, 12:13:19 PM »

Offline gift

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Wow, that's actually a big deal with ramifications for the future of streaming. Eventually, I think you'll see things like NBA Network (which will host all streaming NBA content) wrapped into something like Peacock, Netflix, Amazon etc. It's the way things are going.


Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2021, 12:30:25 PM »

Offline slamtheking

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Great, NBCUniversal is buying the WWE network and shuttering NBCSports Channel.  #headscratcher
If they view the WWE Network as profitable as a streaming service addition to the Peacock Streaming Service and NBCSN is an unprofitable television network, it makes complete sense, especially if the only thing worth watching on NBCSN were the national NHL games that can be put on much higher viewed networks they own, like the USA Network.
has there been any word on how the end of NBCSN would impact the Celtic game broadcasts locally?  I believe it's the same network.

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2021, 01:03:02 PM »

Offline gift

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Great, NBCUniversal is buying the WWE network and shuttering NBCSports Channel.  #headscratcher
If they view the WWE Network as profitable as a streaming service addition to the Peacock Streaming Service and NBCSN is an unprofitable television network, it makes complete sense, especially if the only thing worth watching on NBCSN were the national NHL games that can be put on much higher viewed networks they own, like the USA Network.
has there been any word on how the end of NBCSN would impact the Celtic game broadcasts locally?  I believe it's the same network.

"This will not impact the NBC Sports regional networks, which include NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Northwest. These regional sports networks operate as a separate business than NBC Sports Network."

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/nbc-sports-network-will-shut-down-nbc-sports-chicago-not-impacted

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2021, 02:02:56 PM »

Offline ChillyWilly

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I guess this is good although I haven't watched wrestling since....

WHAT!? WHAT!? WHAT!?

Would often go to ECW TV tapings and PPVs.
ok fine

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2021, 02:22:17 PM »

Offline slamtheking

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Great, NBCUniversal is buying the WWE network and shuttering NBCSports Channel.  #headscratcher
If they view the WWE Network as profitable as a streaming service addition to the Peacock Streaming Service and NBCSN is an unprofitable television network, it makes complete sense, especially if the only thing worth watching on NBCSN were the national NHL games that can be put on much higher viewed networks they own, like the USA Network.
has there been any word on how the end of NBCSN would impact the Celtic game broadcasts locally?  I believe it's the same network.

"This will not impact the NBC Sports regional networks, which include NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Northwest. These regional sports networks operate as a separate business than NBC Sports Network."

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/nbc-sports-network-will-shut-down-nbc-sports-chicago-not-impacted
phew

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2021, 04:13:17 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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So I guess WWE didn't sell the network. They sold the exclusive rights to stream it to NBC Universal for 5 years and....get this...$1 billion.

Dang that's a lot of money.

Re: WWE Network sold to NBC Universal
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2021, 05:45:07 PM »

Offline ConnerHenry

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NBC is effectively paying WWE $15 per customer for the right to charge $5.99 per customer for what WWE was charging $9.99 per customer

bundling is a strange business