WWE sent out a survey today to gauge interest on some new ideas for the Network, with them focusing on options that would incentivize people to subscribe to a premium-priced tier.
The survey asked how interested respondents were in the following potential new programming ideas:
Ring of Honor (historic and new programing)
House shows (select shows airing live on the Network)
TNA/Impact/Global Force Wrestling (historic and new programing)
An audio channel that would feature listening-only content for pay-per-views, music playlists, sports radio type call-in shows, and podcasts
Original scripted comedies (examples cited were WWE Superstar Roasts, Southpaw Regional Wrestling, and WWE’s version of The Office)
New reality shows (a show focusing on life on the road for WWE wrestlers, a show looking at their training and workout regimens, WWE Superstar Cribs, a show like The Apprentice, and a second season of Legends House were examples)
A TV-14 in-ring show (a new weekly version of ECW or another “edgy” new promotion were brought up)
Tournaments (King/Queen of the Ring, a lucha tournament, a tag team tournament, and WWE vs. NXT)
WWE Director’s Cut (classic events and matches with narration by legends or current WWE wrestlers)
Original scripted dramas (a WWE version of Game of Thrones was mentioned)
Special live events (one-time only live events from around the world with “an unexpected main event”)
Other promotions like ICW, PROGRESS, and New Japan Pro Wrestling
WWE next brought up a list of special features that may be used for the tier. These included:
Download to go (the ability to watch content offline)
Personalization (custom playlists, the ability to change the look and feel of the interface)
Alternate viewing options (watch WWE in-ring shows with different camera angles)
A ratings/comment system
Social viewing (sets up a theater mode to watch with friends virtually, or participate in a live event on Facebook where you can chat with others)
Social sharing (the ability to share clips and playlists on social media)
Alternate audio (different commentary teams)
Virtual reality (using VR hardware, watch current or historic WWE content that makes it seem like you are sitting ringside)
Finally, the survey brought up “special benefits and perks” that could be offered with the tier. These included:
Sweepstakes entries (automatic entries to win WWE tickets, merchandise, etc.)
Breaking news first (being the first to get WWE’s breaking news before social media or WWE.com)
Loyalty program (rewards such as T-shirts, collectibles, and ticket upgrades using loyalty points earned from the time you first started subscribing to the Network)
Early access to new merchandise
Fan voting (opportunities to vote for match participants, Hall of Fame inductees, Slammy winners, etc.)
Preferred pricing (special offers for WWE VIP events, discount packages, and special offers on products from WWE sponsors)
Free shipping on WWE Shop orders
Early access to live event tickets
Monthly call inside WWE headquarters (the ability to listen in to a conference call with executives such as Triple H or Stephanie McMahon)
WWE has done similar surveys in the past and It isn’t known if any of these ideas will ever come to the Network. Impact Wrestling’s Ed Nordholm has said as recently as a couple of weeks ago that they have no interest in selling their tape library to WWE and that it doesn’t make sense to.
Rumors have also been swirling around for a while regarding promotions such as PROGRESS and ICW appearing on the Network, but that hasn’t come to fruition yet.