Scott, we've been talking about this all weekend, but a few real interesting tidbits from a Wall Street Journal article on the wwe...
1) analysts still expect their renegotiated tv deal to be a 50% increase of their previous deal.
2) the companies latest profit guidance implies that the networks fixed costs will be much higher than expected.
3) CEO of PAA research says that the wwe has a history of over promising and called the network a "black hole."
This just struck me as funny.
Nothing earth shattering but front page WSJ articles are a pretty big deal.
Ironically, despite talking about it all weekend, the blog isn't doing particularly big numbers off this discussion. So there's some weird syncronicity for you.
I'm not sure what #1 means. #2, yes, definitely the Network is somehow costing way more money than they initially advertised, which is really weird given that it's basically all recycled DVD content. Are they actually paying people instead of using their intern monkeys?
I think it'd be nice to give him a HoF ring for being the face of WCW, but yes, beyond that, I don't care.
ReplyDeleteHe's also probably the luckiest wrestler alive for making it to the level he did despite having no mic skills, average ringwork, being lazy as shit and having no "fuck you, got mine" attitude.
As a HoF guy I have no issues with Sting, it's the idea of him wrestling that I find hideous and offensive.
ReplyDeletePunk being a petulant child = BLOG HITS
ReplyDeleteI always wonder what would have happened if he didn't blow his knee in the build up to his first title win. Probably about the same end result as I think he's basically a creation of the Flair Clash match because of the shortcomings you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIt's totally a "me" thing. The only time I ever gave a shit about him was during his initial Crow run from 1996 to about 1998. Any other time outside of that I was more or less indifferent to him. And then all this recent talk of him vs. Taker has gotten me beyond tired of him now. He hasn't meant anything to the business since the Clinton administration.
ReplyDeleteNo way Sting is headlining the HOF Scott cmon
ReplyDeleteHe was the MAN from 89-93
ReplyDeleteI would too... but it's probably not as great as we think it is. Like you'd just be seitting around converting stuff from analog to digital. Would you actually be able to watch it while you're doing it? I guess prbobaly so.
ReplyDeleteHe had tremendous physical charisma and that helped hide the rest of his weaknesses, but I think where he topped out was where he was always gonna top out, injury or not.
ReplyDeleteSting would be a Jake level inductee.
ReplyDeleteThe Wall Street Journal still has a prestigious name but I find it hard to take them seriously since it's basically become a Murdoch sanctioned right-wing rag. I take their opinion even less seriously than usual in this case given that positive news about WWE goes against Murdoch's business interests.
ReplyDeleteMost of what we know about the network would fall under the umbrella of variable costing and not fixed costs. So fixed costs being higher than anticipated means nothing to me as written. Define "fixed costs" for the WWE network. Are we talking rights fees that have to be paid in perpetuity for as long as the content is promoted? Are we talking infrastructure costs that are "fixed costs" but have already been paid and won't need to be budgeted for the future? Are we talking other overhead functions that are written into WWE network "fixed costs" but were previously accounted for as "fixed costs" under other products and services?
This article doesn't tell me and the way it's written I doubt the author knows the answer either. It's a pretty common reporting tactic of reporting on a positive but burying it in negative context. WSJ does this quite a bit recently and I'm sick of it.
Point #2 is why I don't understand KENTA and Prince Devitt signing with the WWE. They were both making millions in Japan and are two of the best wrestlers in the world. So, why do they want to waste time having Bill DeMott yell at them for not knowing how to work? I guess it's a major milestone they both feel the need to have? I dunno...hopefully the WWE realizes what they have in both.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure to save money they have like 10 guys doing 150 different jobs at all hours, a la the writers sometimes. Probably have to convert like 3 shows at the same time while editing 14 fluff pieces...if anything you'd have to watch TOO much stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you know the answer to your own question. There are some guys out there who truly don't care if they never perform on the biggest stage and would pass on a WWE opportunity, sure.
ReplyDeleteBut not many.
I'm really surprised how no one's talked about the impact short selling had on the stock. A short sell is basically people like me borrowing someone's stock for a set amount of time and then selling it back when that time is over. So, people like me who figured the TV rights talk was more of the WWE's typical over exaggeration made money when the stock took a dive. Because enough of us did this, the stock kept going down and people who predicted that made even more money.
ReplyDeleteThis is a reason companies don't usually over promise results, but the people running WWE just aren't that bright. Even for amateurs like myself, investing with WWE is like taking candy from babies.
Sure was, although I was strictly a WWF guy for my entire life, so I didn't even know he existed during that period. Again, a me thing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I suppose so, I'm just surprised. I mean KENTA is near the end of his career and has made more money than God, so I can see it being a career milestone thing. Devitt...I dunno. I don't understand why he's leaving all that money in his prime...especially when one of his big issues was he was homesick for Ireland.
ReplyDeleteOh well, hopefully it will work out well for them. Devitt is another D-Bry/Punk as far as ability and charisma goes and both D-Bry and Punk took a majority of their moves from KENTA.
So, Brian Danielson wasn't a high-level indy guy?
ReplyDeleteWWE sees itself as the keeper of the flame for pro wrestling, so folks who wrestled elsewhere have been inducted like Gagne, Bockwinkel, Abdullah, etc.
ReplyDelete