WWE Network moving to Peacock!

[Storm Trooper]

Peacock to the become the exclusive home of WWE Network in the U.S. | WWE (https://www.wwe.com/article/peacock-to-the-become-the-exclusive-home-of-wwe-network-in-the-us)


WWE Network will be integrated into Peacock in the US beginning on March 18th. It will be the entire Network, as current WWE Network subscribers will be folded into Peacock closer to the launch.

According to the press release we will get the following with the updated WWE Network:



All live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania and SummerSlam; Fastlane will be the first WWE pay-per-view to stream on Peacock on Sunday, March 21.
Original series like Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions, Undertaker: The Last Ride and the all-new WWE Icons;
In-ring shows like NXT, NXT UK and WWE 205 Live, as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown;
WWE Network archives, including every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view event in history;
Groundbreaking documentaries, including WWE 24, WWE Untold, and WWE 365;
And, starting in 2022, one signature documentary annually.


That last one is interesting, as I read that as a Documentary more like the Andre The Giant one HBO did (or old WWE ones) instead of the 1 hour documentaries they've been doing. Give me more long-form documentaries.

Pro's:


The with ads version of Peacock is $4.99. $5 cheaper. Ad-free is still $9.99
With your subscription you get more than just the WWE Network stuff, you get all of Peacock Premiums programming (like the new Saved By The Bell show, Premier League soccer and The Office)
If you already have Peacock it's one less subscription you need to pay for.


Cons:

Short term it may lead to some confusion with regards to people needing to download a new app on their devices.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I love this because I can watch The Office again without paying for a new streaming service.

[Stone Cold Tea]

WWE Network and Premier League football for 10 dollars a month. You guys are lucky

[Storm Trooper]

I'll be honest, I know Peacock has been somewhat lagging behind the rest of the streaming services. This will push it right up there with HBO Max I think.

WWE Network, The Office (I'm yet to watch it believe it or not), and with NBC Sports Network ending in 2021 they'll likely shift some of their NHL Coverage there.

Also, NBC airs the Olympics, so I'm willing to bet the 2021 Olympics will have the vast majority of it airing on Peacock (as well as on Cable TV).


Most importantly, apparently WWE is getting $1 Billion from NBC/Universal over 5 years for WWE Network. That's the same money WWE got for Smackdown from Fox. It's almost as if Vince is still a genius businessman, turning the WWE Network into a Billion Dollar entity.

[Storm Trooper]

Just in case it was not clear in anything prior to this, this is ONLY for US customers. It has no effect on anyone outside of America.

[Jack-Hammer]

I read earlier in one of the articles that information as to whether subscriber's current WWE Network subscriptions will be automatically transferred to Peacock or if you'll have to establish a Peacock account will be released at a later date.

Aside from the WWE Network, I haven't subscribed to any streaming service so this might wind up changing my mind about them. There are a lot of great shows on Peacock but the center of the streaming universe right now seems to be HBO Max and Disney+ and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

This is a good deal for WWE as they'll be making a bit more per year than they currently ar from the network but none of that money will have to go towards the upkeep of the network itself. All WWE has to do is provide the content and leave whatever expenses go into keeping the network up to NBC. So yeah, this makes WWE's third billion dollar deal and they're expected record revenue from 2020 along with far less expenses than normal since they didn't tour for most of the year. House shows also look to be a thing of the past as WWE isn't expected to resume touring for house shows even when the pandemic is gotten under control. I'm assuming they'll do Raw, SmackDown and PPVs in different cities, like normal, in front of fans once things are under control, which will be pretty good for a lot of the talent in that they'll go from working four to five days a week to four to five days a month.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I finally learned something: ratings don't matter at all.

[Stone Cold Tea]

I finally learned something: ratings don't matter at all.

We're in 2021 BSE not 1999

[Stone Cold Tea]

I read earlier in one of the articles that information as to whether subscriber's current WWE Network subscriptions will be automatically transferred to Peacock or if you'll have to establish a Peacock account will be released at a later date.

Aside from the WWE Network, I haven't subscribed to any streaming service so this might wind up changing my mind about them. There are a lot of great shows on Peacock but the center of the streaming universe right now seems to be HBO Max and Disney+ and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

This is a good deal for WWE as they'll be making a bit more per year than they currently ar from the network but none of that money will have to go towards the upkeep of the network itself. All WWE has to do is provide the content and leave whatever expenses go into keeping the network up to NBC. So yeah, this makes WWE's third billion dollar deal and they're expected record revenue from 2020 along with far less expenses than normal since they didn't tour for most of the year. House shows also look to be a thing of the past as WWE isn't expected to resume touring for house shows even when the pandemic is gotten under control. I'm assuming they'll do Raw, SmackDown and PPVs in different cities, like normal, in front of fans once things are under control, which will be pretty good for a lot of the talent in that they'll go from working four to five days a week to four to five days a month.
I dont know if the less house shows deal is good. Sure it means less dates and more rest but it also means less practice and, although I'm not savvy to a WWE contract, I would assume it means less money since you're working less dates

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I'm 2 episodes into Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and it's incredible. Andy Samberg is hilarious.

[Storm Trooper]

Watch WWE - Stream every live pay-per-view including WrestleMania | Peacock (peacocktv.com) (https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wwe)

Peacock is running a promotion that you can get 4 months of Peacock (the $4.99 version) for $9.99, 50% off the regular price.

So that means for 4 months you'd be spending $2.50 for WWE Network.

WWE Network to launch on Peacock March 18 | WWE (https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-network-to-launch-on-peacock-march-18)

One bad news about this. They are going to have the past years content up right away, but the migration to Peacock for all the complete archive will be complete by SummerSlam. Understandable as there's so much content that it takes time to put it up.

[EnviousDominous]

Streaming to the left of me! Streaming to the right of me! Streaming in front of me! Tennyson was on to something.

In my happy home, we have the OG Netflix because it's fucking Netflix and Disney+ because Hamilton and my kid.

I got rid of the WWE Network long ago because I only need to see The Royal Rumble and maybe Wreslemania, which is roughly $100 as opposed to the $120 that I'd be paying for a year of all the nonsense that the WWE is mass producing to validate having a streaming platform.

Peacock, meh. These major networks are ridiculously late to the game. NBC has a massive amount of content, that I've already seen to the point where I'm not super excited about paying extra to have exclusive access.

SNL is neat, but more miss than hit. The Office is fun, but I've already seen the entire series. I really hate Andy Samberg, I've never found his style of "laugh at me, not with me" to be amusing. Jimmy Fallon is to the Tonight Show what Chevy Chase was to the Chevy Chase Show. I've seen two episodes of 30 Rock, and that was enough to earn a hard pass from me.

I'm happy that the WWE is getting a huge infusion of cash during this trying times, and that at this point they're getting paid by two major networks. There's just way too much shit that's churned out when a major media entity puts out a streaming channel, and I see all of the streaming platforms following that trend. There's the hit shows, and then there's the massive swamp of useless content that they shotgun onto your main menu that's absolutely terrible.

[Storm Trooper]

Streaming to the left of me! Streaming to the right of me! Streaming in front of me! Tennyson was on to something.

In my happy home, we have the OG Netflix because it's fucking Netflix and Disney+ because Hamilton and my kid.

I got rid of the WWE Network long ago because I only need to see The Royal Rumble and maybe Wreslemania, which is roughly $100 as opposed to the $120 that I'd be paying for a year of all the nonsense that the WWE is mass producing to validate having a streaming platform.

Peacock, meh. These major networks are ridiculously late to the game. NBC has a massive amount of content, that I've already seen to the point where I'm not super excited about paying extra to have exclusive access.

SNL is neat, but more miss than hit. The Office is fun, but I've already seen the entire series. I really hate Andy Samberg, I've never found his style of "laugh at me, not with me" to be amusing. Jimmy Fallon is to the Tonight Show what Chevy Chase was to the Chevy Chase Show. I've seen two episodes of 30 Rock, and that was enough to earn a hard pass from me.

I'm happy that the WWE is getting a huge infusion of cash during this trying times, and that at this point they're getting paid by two major networks. There's just way too much shit that's churned out when a major media entity puts out a streaming channel, and I see all of the streaming platforms following that trend. There's the hit shows, and then there's the massive swamp of useless content that they shotgun onto your main menu that's absolutely terrible.
Getting the Rumble and WrestleMania should have only be $20, not $100. Just get the Network for that show and cancel afterwards. Much better than getting the PPV for $50 each.

Now with Peacock it'll be $4.99 a month so it'll be $9.98 for the Mania/Rumble package.

[EnviousDominous]

Getting the Rumble and WrestleMania should have only be $20, not $100. Just get the Network for that show and cancel afterwards. Much better than getting the PPV for $50 each.

Now with Peacock it'll be $4.99 a month so it'll be $9.98 for the Mania/Rumble package.

Look, I don't like being pulled into the "subscription" media game.

I'm not speaking for everyone, but from my experience the video and sound quality of a streamed WWE PPV is absolute shit. My internet connection is blazing fast at all times, and I watch it through my smart tv. My only explanation for why my experience with the Network is so terrible is that it wasn't prepared for the massive amount of people that would be bogging down whatever server is streaming the content.

When I pay $50 to watch a PPV directly through my cable provider, I get everything in uninterrupted high definition. Totally worth the money.

[Stone Cold Tea]

I did wonder if people still purchased PPVs and what their reasons would be. For me WWE Network is a godsend. I've been able to watch all the AE during lockdown whilst WFH.

The only downside is WWE long documentaries suffered as a result. It could be to do with them ending their partnership with coliseum videos I think it was.

I'm not a massive fan of the WWE 24 series but I really enjoyed the Icon they did on Yoko.

[Storm Trooper]

Yeah, I never had issues with the WWE Network stream. MAYBE once or twice in the 7 years.

It's allowed me to watch every show without any issues. It also allows me to replay the show later if need be.

[Stone Cold Tea]

I've had a few issues in the past. I think I may have had the PPV stream quality once when it was live but I'd forgotten about it tbh. I would randomly get an error saying I lost connection whilst watching old shows even though it continued to stream.

I do remember one year, I think it was 'Mania 32, I didn't have a sub but got to watch the show on the network for free. The catalogue is unrivalled and its an absolute dream for a fan like myself.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Is the quality $80 (now $90) better?

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Not a big fan of Peacock. I get the business aspect to why the WWE switched but the Network is better.