Does anyone still buy the full-price pay-per-views? And why?

[Creepy Old Man]

I'm one of those folks. I live in a remote area and my internet connection just can't support a live stream, even at the lowest imaginable quality (Network only goes as low as 480, apparently). Normally I just pick up the PPV on Dailymotion, YouTube or another host the next day before it gets deleted, but if I'm watching live, it's pay-per-view. WrestleMania has burned a hole in my pocket these last two years.

Anyone else still paying full-price, and why?

 

[Radical Canadian Goose]

I live in Canada so we "legally" just recently got the network. I'm not very technically savvy, nor do I own a PS4 or Xbox One, so I would be watching on my laptop. I normally stream a ppv if it doesn't seem worthy o paying for. PPVs like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and Summerslam , I always pay full price for

 

[shafe_41]

Of course people still pay for them. I myself don't because I have the Network. No matter how much people want to "sound cool" and dump all over the Network for whatever reason, it's something I've waited my life to see happen. Anyone that says differently, they're likely lying.

Take bumf*ck West Virginia for instance. There's probably plenty of wrestling fans in the boonies down there. Aside from Morgantown (where WVU is located) and some other okay-sized towns, the state has no type of high speed connection that would give you the Network in a way that wouldn't piss you off. So I'm sure it's pretty safe to say if you don't live in a highly populated area, you will order some of the bigger ones just because it's the only way you can watch it without it having to buffer for hours on end.

 

[Charismatic Enigma]

I live near Tampa, FL and I've had high speed internet since about 1998, so it's hard for me to even imagine there are still places in this country that can't get a good enough internet connection to use the network.

I can see why people who aren't super tech savvy or who don't want to watch a PPV on a computer might still order the big ones if they're having a party or something. I invested in a Roku just so I could watch the network on my TV, I think it was like $60 on Amazon, but as much as I can complain about their actual programming lately, I have nothing to complain about when it comes to the network. $10 a month, HD, every PPV, plus NXT. If anyone is able to order it and isn't they are really missing out. I think for as much as WWE likes to tell you how great of a deal it is, they've neglected to explain in simple terms how you can get a cheap device like Roku and then watch it on your TV like anything else. I think there is probably a large segment of people that still don't understand that.

 

[TheICChampion]

Well, given the PPV buy numbers haven't hit zero yet, I would assume there are still people who order PPV's. Me, personally, I'm lucky to live where I am and even though I have the network I still sometimes like to go to theatres in my area and pay $20. Sure, it's a little much but I like it because it's an atmosphere that you can't experience sitting at home. Plus, watching wrestling on those giant screens is pretty awesome.

 

[bioshock]

I have the Network and all that, but up to maybe a year ago the internet for it wasnt in my area, all I had was 50GB a month 3G or 20GB a month 4G so you can imagine how much you can watch on that. But I have the internet and its unlimited so I watch it on the Network.

But I have a friend who lives in Indiana in a decent size town and he still cant get internet besides capped 3G or 4G with only around 5-10GB a month, so watching the Network for him isn't a option. And Indiana isn't exactly the middle of nowhere in the country. Of course every major city has fast internet like Tampa as the guy said above, but small towns, and people in the country outside of town only have 3G or 4G as a option and you know how capped they are.

So I do assume some are stuck watching PPV because its their only option, and others maybe do it because they have no clue what the internet is, and yeah most over 40+ years old don't know the internet and how it works. SO I'm sure those older fans are stuck with PPV.

But again, I blame WWE, they are the ones making the PPV cost so much. I remember almost every year WWE would raise the price for Wrestlemania, When the average was 29.95 they raised WM to 34.95 when that become the average price they jumped it to 39.95 and then up to 49 and then 59 and now upwards of 70 if you want HD. Yeah well movie prices haven't changed. Porno prices haven't changed either, and boxing is known for setting their own prices. Vince is the one who always wanted more more more money out of PPV, why else have buyrates gone down so much over the years.

 

[FlairFan2003]

I have no interest in the network and don't subscribe. I'll order this years Mania with some friends to see Sting but that's about it, and haven't watched a WWE PPV since Cena-Rock 1 a few years ago. The monthly investment in the network isn't worth it to me to watch one PPV every two or three years

 

[Reflection]

Buy a PPV for $50 (about 3000 INR)? Never in my life.
Subscribe to the WWE Network for $9.99 (about 600 INR)? Even that seems quite steep, considering how mediocre the Road to Mania has been this year.
Thankfully, Wrestlemania 31 will air for FREE (as always) but will also air LIVE here (that's a first time). I'm really glad WWE and Ten Sports are giving us a special treatment, because that's about as much money that I would be willing to spend on any WWE or TNA show at this point.
I guess the only ones that will spend $50 are people that will watch this only because it's Wrestlemania, and are not interested to subscribe to WWE programme for more than a day. But if someone spends $50 every month on WWE PPVs, then that person is an idiot.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I have a lot of shit luck when it comes to the live streams with buffering and HD quality, so I will be buying WM. With the other PPVs, if I start them on a roughly 10 minute delay, they rock n roll fine, but still have the occasional video blur quality issues. I don't want ANY of that during Mania.

I was just recently pointed in the direction of a web browser that it runs perfectly smooth on, however, I have only been using that fix for about two weeks now, and won't entrust my WrestleMania experience to it.

 

[John McCass]

Thankfully, Wrestlemania 31 will air for FREE (as always) but will also air LIVE here (that's a first time).

Hey, is this true? I haven't watched the commercial yet. Now, this is going to be a huge benefit for the natives of my country. We are watching everything for free and live. Is this true for all coming PPVs or only WrestleMania?

 

[Reflection]

Hey, is this true? I haven't watched the commercial yet. Now, this is going to be a huge benefit for the natives of my country. We are watching everything for free and live. Is this true for all coming PPVs or only WrestleMania?

Yep, very true They've been advertising it for a while now. Here is the promotional video by Ten Sports:
[youtube]ANp7U9HnsjM[/youtube]
I think its a one-time only deal for Wrestlemania; other PPVs will air at the normal 12-hour delay format. But if Ten Sports really brings all PPVs LIVE, it will be f**king awesome! Maybe I'll not watch all, but I'll definitely get up at 4:30 AM to watch the big four PPVs.
I wish they would air the Hall Of Fame ceremony too. I'll go make a post on their facebook timeline, although I doubt they will be able (or bother) to buy airing rights on such short notice.

 

[John McCass]

Yep, very true They've been advertising it for a while now. Here is the promotional video by Ten Sports:
[youtube]ANp7U9HnsjM[/youtube]
I think its a one-time only deal for Wrestlemania; other PPVs will air at the normal 12-hour delay format. But if Ten Sports really brings all PPVs LIVE, it will be f**king awesome! Maybe I'll not watch all, but I'll definitely get up at 4:30 AM to watch the big four PPVs.
I wish they would air the Hall Of Fame ceremony too. I'll go make a post on their facebook timeline, although I doubt they will be able (or bother) to buy airing rights on such short notice.

Its been a helluva year for Indian WWE fans. We are getting the most benefits anyone can get. Raw went live, SD! is also 11 hours delay and now PPVs live. All this for free.
#thankyouWWE

 

[Kliq]

Wow, for the first time in 12 years I'll be missing watching WM live on tv. I guess I didn't realize Directv isn't carrying it this year. It's the only PPV I purchase each year, and have no desire to get the network. This sucks for me, I was really looking forward to seeing Sting wrestle his first WWE match.

 

[CrucifiedRaven]

Because I buy 1 a year and split it with 5-6 people.

 

[Canadasam]

I've had the network since day one.. Illegally for one year and Legal for year two... Before that I was only buying 3 PPVs a year (Mania, Rumble, Money in the bank) and watching the rest either the next day by downloading it.

The Network has been great!
Why people complain about it I have no idea. Just to complain I guess. It's like CK Louis talks about how people are just babies when they feel they are entitled to everything and so self absorbed that if they are given THEIR way they get so angry and feel cheated.

 

[relentless1]

Ive been watching wrestling for 20 years and I've never paid for a PPV; originally i was too young to get my dad to order it, then the black box came about and i used our neighbours, now i just stream it live. Only suckers pay for shit