Wrestling programming TV/PPV structure

[absent]

Are wrestling TV shows better off with their current programming model which is totally against the structure of other TV shows?

Generally TV shows work through a 20-odd episode season which builds to a finale on the regular channel (maybe a few special semi-resolution episodes in between). Wrestling generally works though an almost monthly cycle where the pay-off (i.e. season finale) is on PPV, the TV shows work to sell a PPV, very little resolution is given on the normal shows.

Do you think this hurts the long term viewership of the shows and PPV buys? If it was another TV show would you pay $35 or whatever to see every fifth or sixth episode where the story resolved somewhat? Would that demand stop you watching the show in general?

Bischoff has stated that the hardcore/internet 10% don't matter, it's the casual viewer that is important. But if you were a casual viewer of a show like Law & Order or Lost, not a passionate fan, would you pay $35 just to see the season finale?

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

The thing to bear in mind is that wrestling shows are not the same as series' with x number of episodes per series, so making that comparison doesn't really hold up. It's better to just think of it as a soap opera that is constantly pushing storylines forward towards a few big climaxes (WrestleMania/Bound For Glory wrestling wise, Christmas/New Year for soap operas).

I wouldn't say that every PPV is comparable to a season finale though, as feuds tend to go on over several PPVs which is another reason you can't really compare wrestling to tv shows with a set number of episodes.