Why WWE Needs To Focus On Their TV Product More Than Ever

Infrequent PPVs

WWE also recently announced that every remaining 2018 PPV will now be co-branded, which eliminates the need for two PPVs a month. To be honest, two a month was also getting to be a little too much. WWE returned to the once a month formula and will now have longer shows than usual as well, which has its ups and downs.

Unfortunately, the events may get boring with a longer runtime (*cough* WrestleMania 34). On the bright side of things, though, both brands are able to feature the best matches and storylines they each have to offer in this time.

In any event, this could also point to better WWE TV programming on both Smackdown and RAW. Less PPVs means that stories can build further over time and flesh out before getting to the blow off match. Once again, this can certainly be done poorly, but more time in between PPVs also opens the door for bigger matches week to week. Creative really has to spin their wheels now a month in advance to decide what feuds will take shape for the next month’s show and so on.

Conclusion

Strangely enough, even though the WWE Network is a big push for the company, it appears that WWE may have to focus efforts on TV to get the most out of their new position in the TV landscape. Smackdown’s move to FOX and the weed out of half the year’s PPVs both mean that WWE has to concentrate their efforts on solid week to week programming in order to see great results.

WWE has an opportunity to break laziness and actually produce some hard hitting TV in the next few years. Let’s hope that the new FOX deal and the PPV decrease give us what we want- a more entertaining weekly wrestling calendar over on cable. 

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