Dave,
I agree with you that:
A) this is part of WWE's TV rights push that they've been using to buffet growth and offset declining PPV revenues for years
B) they should not make this "permanent" - writers haven't got a very good track record
C) those that don't learn from the past (WCW) are doomed to repeat it BUT without real wrestling competition on TV it will be interesting to see if they have already reached the point that it's just hardcores watching those three hours already.
I was thinking the extra hour of RAW would be part of their test of training their hardcore viewers to watch the hour before which eventually will switch over to the Network inevitably when the show ratings don't deliver and become the "preshow" running down angles an added interviews.
Do you think they will use this third hour adjustment as an excuse for declining ratings so they can play more games in the SEC filings an conference calls with the rating comps?
I wonder whether people like Hunter think this gives opportunity for more Interviews and/or longer matches?
I also am curious whether there we will have dedicated first hour chaps like in WCW or whether they will actually use stars. (Correct if I'm wrong but I remember nitro using the Lizmark Jr and barbarians of the world during hour one.)
I am surprised USA is willing to sacrifice the NCIS reruns ratings for the timeslot. I sincerely doubt they get the 350k that Bryan estimated. I dont recall what they get per show, but lets pretend it's 700k each week when you prorate it. Like you said audience and production team is already there. They are not going to deliver higher ratings than other two hours so I can't see USA paying par for this - more like 125k to 250k for an extra hour.
It's interesting for certain.
Best,
Chris Harrington
Saint Paul MN
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