Title: WWE moving back to USA Network
Description: This september...
Scrooge McSuck - March 11, 2005 01:39 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Dave@wrestlingobserver.com
Spike TV sent out a press release earlier today announcing they have closed negotiations with WWE regarding renewing their five-year contract.
It is believed to now be a formality that WWE Raw and the rest of the weekend cable shows, Heat, Velocity and Experience, will be moving to the USA Network in September.
"After several months of negotiations, we have decided to end our discussions about extending our relationship wiht WWE beyond September 2005," wrote Spike TV in a press release. "Moving forward, Spike TV will expand its investments in original programming and new acquisitions for its core audience."
This is a huge blow to the network, as Raw was, by far, its most popular program and led to it be the No. 4 rated network when it came to the coveted 18-34 and 18-49 demographics. |
Thank the fuck Christ. I always thought moving to TNN/the Hee-Haw Network/The New TNN/Spike TV was a stupid move, especially when 99% of its programming sucks monkey testicles. USA Network is at least a familiar channel to a lot of people, and doesn't sound so fucking lame.
"Raw is on Spike TV."
"What a fucking retarded station name."
Big F'N Swigg - March 11, 2005 01:45 AM (GMT)
"Johnny Polo Ate it"
"What a fucking stupid screen name"
Scrooge McSuck - March 11, 2005 01:47 AM (GMT)
The fans chose it, right here, at da wrestling board! (sticks thumb up)
Big F'N Swigg - March 11, 2005 01:49 AM (GMT)
On a serious note. THANK YOU GOD!!!!
I hope USA doesn't let them pull so much shit.
dynamite kido - March 11, 2005 06:11 AM (GMT)
I'm extremely happy to hear about this. I wonder if they are working anything out for Smackdown too?
prof_plague - March 11, 2005 06:17 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (TheBigSwigg @ Mar 10 2005, 07:45 PM) |
"Johnny Polo Ate it"
"What a fucking stupid screen name" |
I'll have you know that "Johnny Polo Ate It" is a fine name, if I do say so myself! :D
prof_plague - March 11, 2005 06:21 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (dynamite kido @ Mar 11 2005, 12:11 AM) |
| I'm extremely happy to hear about this. I wonder if they are working anything out for Smackdown too? |
Wait. Could it be possible? To even have all of the shows all on one channel? You know how much I would love and be enamored with that idea.
S.T. Strickler - March 11, 2005 02:26 PM (GMT)
I'm definitely liking this. USA Network will have WWE, Law & Order (which I haven't watched in awhile), and possibly NFL Football if a deal is worked out.
Big F'N Swigg - March 11, 2005 05:59 PM (GMT)
Does anyone else notice that Viacom owned networks are having identity crisis' every couple years? A few years ago UPN was a network for minorities, and now it's aimed at women. Spike was the Network for Men, but it seems to be moving away from that. WTF? Why don't they give something a few years to grow before changing everything around?
Damn Corporate America.
Scrooge McSuck - March 11, 2005 06:02 PM (GMT)
Don't forget USA is home to "Monk", my favorite show at the present time.
Big F'N Swigg - March 11, 2005 06:03 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Johnny Polo Ate It @ Mar 11 2005, 12:02 PM) |
| Don't forget USA is home to "Monk", my favorite show at the present time. |
I haven't watched USA in years. What else do they have?
SamoaRowe - March 11, 2005 06:32 PM (GMT)
This will be good, as I watch USA for Law and Order SVU and sometimes The Dead Zone.
USA was a better fit for Raw as well, and I seriously don't think it has been the same since it left. I know it just jumped stations and such, but... I associate USA with the good times I had with the old WWF.
Big F'N Swigg - March 11, 2005 06:51 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (PWInsider) |
| The Hollywood Reporter has posted a story last night with added information as to why Spike TV chose to drop out of negotiations with the WWE for the rights to their cable TV programming. According to the report, WWE was asking Spike TV for a fee of about $40 million a year, which would be more than 40% above what Spike has paid WWE over the last five years (and it should be pointed out for a product that has vastly underperformed what it did on the USA Network). The piece also pondered whether paying for Raw made sense after Spike anted up big money for CSI and CSI: NY reruns. |
Sounds to me like someone REALLY wanted to leave....
dynamite kido - March 11, 2005 07:19 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (TheManErnieRowe @ Mar 11 2005, 12:32 PM) |
This will be good, as I watch USA for Law and Order SVU and sometimes The Dead Zone.
USA was a better fit for Raw as well, and I seriously don't think it has been the same since it left. I know it just jumped stations and such, but... I associate USA with the good times I had with the old WWF. |
You know, I think I totally agree with Ernie on this one. It really wasn't that big of a deal when they left USA except for people wondering why the hell are they going to Spike TV. I've always enjoyed it better on USA.......where I remember watching the WWF as a kid.
prof_plague - March 12, 2005 06:42 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Johnny Polo Ate It @ Mar 11 2005, 12:02 PM) |
| Don't forget USA is home to "Monk", my favorite show at the present time. |
I might start watching that show again.
Captain Ass - March 14, 2005 07:50 AM (GMT)
I too haven't watched USA since WWE left, but it had nothing to do with that. USA is more global than Spike TV, so perhaps the ratings will go up a little bit when Raw is back on USA. My fear is that Raw will be pre-empted again by the dog show and the U.S open.
prof_plague - March 14, 2005 06:53 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Captain Ass @ Mar 14 2005, 01:50 AM) |
| My fear is that Raw will be pre-empted again by the dog show and the U.S open. |
:lol: How could I ever forget that? I liked watching the WWF during the peak of its "Attitude" era --- and then next week to see that they were so bad ass, that tennis and a dog show knocked them off air for a couple of weeks.
Although USA on a couple of occassions just moved Raw to a different time slot or a different day.
But then again, that's when Raw was the only main show for the WWF.
SamoaRowe - March 18, 2005 09:13 PM (GMT)
Being pushed aside for dogs and tennis will be a small price to pay to return to the network they never should have left in the first place.