Vince McMahon Explains Why the WWE Network Didn’t Launch On Cable
Jan 10, 2014 - by Andrew Davis
In an article covering the WWE Network launch, The Los Angeles Times, Vince McMahon explained why the WWE Network is launching as a streaming Network, as opposed to a cable channel.
The reason, quite simply, is that there wasn’t enough money in it for WWE Network.
In the article, McMahon claimed that WWE had deals in place for the Network to launch as a cable-only entity, but felt they were “too restrictive” and that they would have only garnered WWE “20 cents a subscriber.”
When you compare that to the guaranteed $9.99 per month per subscriber, you can see why McMahon would choose to instead push for the service to launch as a streaming entity.
In regard to PPV providers potentially dropping WWE events in response to the Network launch, McMahon said, “I think it’d be foolish for them not to want to carry the pay-per-view anymore. It’s found money for them.”
McMahon’s comments were made prior to DirecTV issuing a statement teasing that they may quickly reconsider their WWE PPV deal.
To read the Times piece, click here.