WWE Releases WWE Network Subscribers

[Jack-Hammer]

This morning, WWE has put out a press release touting the success WrestleMania XXX and of the WWE Network itself. According to the press release, the WWE Network currently has 667,287 subscribers after being launched 42 days ago. It was reported at the launch of the network and in the following days that WWE hopes to reach 1 million subscribers by the end of the year with the WWE Network becoming available internationally either very late this year or early next year.

Considering that the network only came out less than 1.5 months ago, garnering fairly close to 700,000 subscribers is a good total. A lot of people were concerned about streaming issues and connection problems for WrestleMania XXX, but it went off without a hitch last night. As a result, I'd say that more people will be signing up because if the network can handle the traffic generated by the biggest show of their year, it should be able to handle anything else.

 

[Mustang Sally]

The other day, I was questioning whether it was a good idea to kick off the Network before WM30, thereby giving up the $55 the network subscribers would have paid for the single event......instead, offering the biggest PPV of the year for $10, which is all they're getting for WM30 from 667,000 people this year.

Yes, I understand the company is looking at a bigger picture than the one I'm talking about, but won't it be interesting to see what the buy rate is for WM30 this year for single-event buyers? If there were to be 1 million buyers (not counting WWE Network subscribers) how many of the 667,000 were to have been part of that 1 million? ....a large number of them, I'd presume.

No, I'm not predicting gloom & doom for WWE; I would think they know what they're doing. Still, they did sacrifice a lot of one-time income last night.

Just food for thought.

 

[jaredsmith83]

If I recall correctly, you had to sign up for 6 months when you first sign up. So, they got $60 up front from the subscribers and there was no option of paying $10 for mania then bailing after the event. I think that will help them recoup for Mania, then they'll go from there taking a hit on the other PPV's. But, if that helps them get new people each month, then those months new people sign up, they'll be getting the money for that PPV.

 

[laodaron]

From an economics perspective, the long term is much more important than the short. The Network fulfills the long term.

 

[mlp420]

WWE Stock is already down 13% this morning. The market may not be as optimistic about this....

 

[Skyeborne]

The other day, I was questioning whether it was a good idea to kick off the Network before WM30, thereby giving up the $55 the network subscribers would have paid for the single event......instead, offering the biggest PPV of the year for $10, which is all they're getting for WM30 from 667,000 people this year.

Yes, I understand the company is looking at a bigger picture than the one I'm talking about, but won't it be interesting to see what the buy rate is for WM30 this year for single-event buyers? If there were to be 1 million buyers (not counting WWE Network subscribers) how many of the 667,000 were to have been part of that 1 million? ....a large number of them, I'd presume.

No, I'm not predicting gloom & doom for WWE; I would think they know what they're doing. Still, they did sacrifice a lot of one-time income last night.

Just food for thought.

At the same time a lot of the 667,000 were probably not part of the 1 million. WWE set the price tag to try and beat the pirates. You can see it around here how people who never bought a single PPV before bought the WWE Network, thats 10 dollars (actually WM was 20 since march didn't have a ppv) more from those people than they would have gotten.

 

[chicagokmc]

It's Business 101. You sacrifice short term profit to set yourself up with long term customers. The only thing that could have screwed up the incredibly cheap $9.95/month price point was a crappy product. And we didn't get that. No streaming issues, great picture! Now people will definitely be more likely to keep their service, meaning that in a year or 2 when it goes from $9.95 to $14.95 or more people are going to believe it's worth it. Its going to take a lot of negativity at this point for customers who have signed up to drop the service.

 

[Pedigree1]

the 667,000 considering the network debuted 1.5 months ago,that is a solid number coming in.. Very solid considering WM did go without a hiccup last night.. I think they will easily reach 1 million subscribers by the end of the year that number i hope,will be doubled.. The WWE did take a huge huge risk in doing this,basically eliminating PPVs all together.. For the 9.99 a month with a 6 month commitment,you basically pay for the WM PPV and get all the others for free..

They handled all the traffic last night flawless. Thats amazing in itself it truly is.. Its going to be interesting to see,the number of subscribers from here on out! But im board till the end

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Stock is now down 20%. This is clearly a horrible number. Yes, the foreign audience will come through and there are some folks who are waiting to make sure it works but 1 million is not good enough at this point and 667,000 is a bad start. It is going to be real interesting in six months how they try to hold on to what they've got during the worst time of the year.

 

[scomvp316]

These numbers aren't exactly accurate
The number WWE gave out is what they have now for the six month commitment and thats the reason the stock is taking a hit
Some insiders have expressed their concerns going into the summer how many of the near 700,000 subscribers today will still be subscribers after the six month commitment
Thats not taking anything away from what WWE has done so far

 

[Mustang Sally]

At the same time a lot of the 667,000 were probably not part of the 1 million...... You can see it around here how people who never bought a single PPV before bought the WWE Network, thats 10 dollars (actually WM was 20 since march didn't have a ppv) more from those people than they would have gotten.

Yes, that's the great "unknown" number, because it's hard to differentiate those people from ones who switched from buying monthly events to signing up for the Network, as most of us have. If the Network signed a lot of folks who never before paid the bucks for single events, WWE has tapped a segment they didn't have previously, which would be terrific for them.

The biggest thing working in the favor of Network subscribers is that if we committed to the package and watched WM30 last night, we've already recouped almost half of our outlay for the coming year ($55 for just WM30.....$120 for the Network annually). If you did that, you're already nearly halfway to having the package pay for itself, even before we watch the other monthly PPVs + everything else offered to us.

The Network is too good a deal to pass up.

 

[tvcolosi]

I love seeing "reporters" calling this a "disastrous number" they need 1.5 million world wide, just under 700k in just the US, what I heard and read (Alverez and Meltzer who I find to be the most accurate outside big Dave's Punk prediction last month) was 750k would be "a total that would be optimistic. A little short, sure but with the 360 fiasco I bet there are some who canceled based on that.

On a side note, I think the countries in the UK plus Canada and Mexico, when they are available, they will get to 1.5 million easy. I think the UK is going exceed expectations by a lot. They get WWE live what twice a year, I don't know how available WCW was there but I assume that ECW will be new to them, they will gobble this up.

 

[Skyeborne]

Yes, that's the great "unknown" number, because it's hard to differentiate those people from ones who switched from buying monthly events to signing up for the Network, as most of us have. If the Network signed a lot of folks who never before paid the bucks for single events, WWE has tapped a segment they didn't have previously, which would be terrific for them.

The biggest thing working in the favor of Network subscribers is that if we committed to the package and watched WM30 last night, we've already recouped almost half of our outlay for the coming year ($55 for just WM30.....$120 for the Network annually). If you did that, you're already nearly halfway to having the package pay for itself, even before we watch the other monthly PPVs + everything else offered to us.

The Network is too good a deal to pass up.

I think that is why you are seeing the stock go down now. It was great when it was an innovative idea, but now it's turned real, people want to see the money and there are so many unknowns right now until the WM buyrate comes in and gets added to the subscribers. For all we know the 10-20 dollars from the 600,000 fans was enough to pay for a bunch of PPVs this year and whatever they make on buys is just pure profit.

I think WWE will easily reach 1 million subscribers by the end of the year, if not before the worldwide release, because they proved they don't have streaming issues, it will be available on more devices soon.