WWE Network Sammelthread

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- WWE is working with MLB.TV on the WWE Network to prevent problems with their online streams going down as viewership increases.

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- Regarding the Network, the new annual budget for the project is reportedly $50 million or just under $50 million.

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F4Wonline.com reports that WWE has sent out a memo stating that Chris Benoit footage will be allowed on its new Network broadcasts. There will be an advisory played before every show he appears on. WWE is expected to announce the Network in Las Vegas next week.

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WWE Universe, come to WWE.com this Wednesday (Jan. at 9:30 p.m. ET for a groundbreaking announcement.

Join WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon — along with WWE COO Triple H, 11-time WWE Champion John Cena, and WWE Hall of Famers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels — for the announcement, which will be streamed LIVE from Las Vegas.

Watch LIVE this Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google+, Pinterest and Pheed. Mark your calendar and get ready for the biggest revolution in sports-entertainment history.

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In addition to Vince McMahon, John Cena, Steve Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Stephanie McMahon appearing at the WWE press conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, Ric Flair will also be there.

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- WWE actually spoiled the Network announcement that will take place at CES in Las Vegas tonight by posting it on the calendar on their corporate website yesterday. The mistake was quickly removed but you can see it in the screenshot below. Remember we will have full coverage of the WWE announcement at 9:30pm tonight. Here's the screenshot:

[Blockierte Grafik: https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/1174749_788733731140394_787431226_n.png]

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- WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has published a new blog entry on JrsBarBq.com. In the blog he covers the launch of the WWE Network. Here is an excerpt from the blog:

Big day for WWE fans and those that earn a living within WWE. The long awaited announcement regarding the new, WWE Network is set for later today in Las Vegas. This will be a critical day in WWE history, one way or another. More to come after this….

Millions of dollars and thousands of man hours have been invested in the WWE Network to be able to get to this point and to announce the long awaited specifics of what many feel could be a game changer for WWE.

Since the days when I was with the company, going back in the 90′s, we were actively pursuing buying old, wrestling tape libraries. So the goal of having a WWE channel or network has long been discussed.

Even though I am no longer employed by WWE nor do I foresee ever becoming a WWE employee again, I am certainly pulling for their success with the Network concept.

The Network will re-introduce some of the great old school memories that many of us long time fans have plus educate an entire demographic of young fans as to the vanishing art form of in ring story telling and extemporaneous speaking.

One major key to the success of this Network is the development of NEW programming as it cannot be only about the old, tape libraries. I can see live, interactive programming being produced on a daily basis which, if true, then it provides several talents with opportunities to contribute to the brand and the network.

It also provides an opportunity for some talents to essentially reinvent themselves if they can bring something to the table.

Pre and post game shows on the network of live, WWE televised events are seemingly a lay up and hopefully they will be produced in a more compelling manner than what we see connected to WWE PPV’s.

Talk shows, call in shows, uniquely themed programs, etc will likely all be a part of the new, WWE Network. I am not espousing these ideas from insider knowledge but merely from someone who has been involved and thinking about this project for well over a decade.

The other key to the network’s success is the airing of ALL the PPV’s live. Right now, WrestleMania is the most, “must see” PPV in WWE and some might argue it is the only “must see’ PPV in WWE. That point is arguable and is dependent upon the attraction.

Being able to see WWE PPV’s, original programming that’s exclusive to the network, and the organized and systematic airing of the episodically produced, wrestling territory shows are among the elements that it will necessitate to make the WWE Network a hit.

I will be ordering it without question and feel that the network, with all the new elements and systematic airing of the older taper libraries, will rival today’s creative that we see on current first run programming from all TV wrestling producers.

Hopefully, the “writers” or “creative team” people will invest ample time in studying the past in order to better navigate the future because the present, in my opinion, isn’t anything to write home about.

Except for Sinclair Broadcasting which owns ROH Wrestling, this is a giant year within the biz for the negotiation of TV rights fees for both WWE and TNA. Ironically, both obviously HAVE to have basic cable to survive but both entities seem to be dealing within different degrees of ‘power.’

I see WWE getting a major bump in their rights fees from a cable network but I don’t hold the same optimism for TNA. Trust me, I hope that both companies score big time but its all about leverage in these types of negotiations (as in what have you done for me lately?) plus the ability to go LIVE on a weekly basis that most networks find very desirous.

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- PWInsider is reporting that fans have spotted Hulk Hogan in Las Vegas over the past couple days, which is where the WWE Network announcement is taking place.

No word yet on whether or not he will be apart of the presentation, but it is quite a coincidence, so we shall see.

Wie zuvor erwartet, hat die WWE im Zuge ihres "Groundbreaking Announcements" in der vergangenen Nacht bei einem großen Event in Las Vegas das WWE Network offiziell bestätigt, bei dem es sich um ein "24/7 HD Streaming Service", bestehend aus einem 24-stündigem Tagesprogramm und einer großen "On-Demand" Sammlung (zum Start mehr als 1.500 Stunden), handeln wird.

Das besagte WWE Network wird am Montag, den 24. Februar 2014 in den USA gestartet werden, bevor es gegen Ende 2014 bzw. Anfang 2015 auch nach und nach in anderen Ländern wie z.B. England, Kanada, Australien, Neuseeland, Singapur, Hongkong und Skandinavien verfügbar sein wird.

Das WWE Network soll bei einer sechsmonatigen Laufzeit monatlich 9,99 $ kosten und u.a. über folgende Arten zu empfangen sein:

- Desktop PC & Laptops via WWE.com

- Amazon's Kindle, Android (u.a. Samsung Galaxy), iOS (u.a. Apple iPad & iPhone), Roku, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation 4 und XBOX 360 via WWE App (neue WWE App ab 24. Februar 2014 verfügbar). Ein Empfang auf XBOX One sowie auf Smart TVs soll ab Sommer 2014 möglich sein.

Auf dem WWE Network sollen u.a. folgende Dinge zu sehen sein:

- alle 12 WWE Pay-Per-Views des Jahres LIVE inkl. WrestleMania
- alle vergangenen Pay-Per-Views der WWE, WCW und ECW
- alle RAW und SmackDown! Episoden
- Original-Serien, Reality Shows & Dokus wie z.B. WWE Legends House & The Monday Night War (RAW vs. NITRO)
- Classic Matches - ungekürzt und ungeschnitten
- Erstausstrahlungen der Shows "WWE Superstars" und "WWE NXT"
- 30-minütige Pre- & Post-Shows zu den LIVE Pay-Per-Views sowie RAW und SmackDown! Episoden
- Wiederholungen von "RAW", "SD!" & "Main Event" (Erstausstrahlungen weiterhin auf USA Network, SyFy & ION Television)

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Hier die offizielle Pressemitteilung zum WWE Network:

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[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

WWE® NETWORK LAUNCHES FEBRUARY 24

STAMFORD, Conn., January 8, 2014 – WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, will launch live in the U.S. on Monday, February 24, featuring all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania® – valued at more than $600 per year for $9.99 per month with a 6-month commitment. WWE Network will also include groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

Fans can subscribe to WWE Network beginning at 9 am ET on Monday, February 24 at WWE.com, and for a limited time will be offered a free one week trial. WWE Network, the first 24/7 network delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution, will be available on desktops and laptops via WWE.com. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation® 3 and Sony PlayStation® 4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

“Today is a historic day for WWE as we transform and reimagine how we deliver our premium live content and 24/7 programming directly to our fans around the world,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. “WWE Network will provide transformative growth for our company and unprecedented value for our fans.”

WWE Network will also offer fans a revolutionary second screen experience for all original programming and live events via the WWE App, similar to the interactive fan experience currently available for flagship TV programs Raw® and SmackDown®

WWE collaborated with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) to build a powerful solution for delivering 24/7 WWE content to fans. MLBAM will provide its industry-leading technology services, including video streaming infrastructure, application development and operational support for reliable cross-platform distribution.

MLBAM has been at the forefront of streaming technology for more than a decade, powering its own live video subscription product since 2002. Last year, MLBAM managed live video content for more than 25,000 events, covering 80,000 hours of broadcast programming, across its sports and entertainment partners.

“We applaud WWE for this bold, timely and strategic move to fully optimize the power and potential of live entertainment,” said Bob Bowman, President and CEO, MLBAM. “We are proud to work with WWE to help provide its millions of loyal fans with unencumbered access to distinctive and engaging live content across the devices they use most.”

WWE Network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

Programming Highlights

WWE Network will officially launch with the live Monday Night Raw Post-Show on Monday, February 24 at 11:06 pm ET, and fans will instantly have access to the most comprehensive WWE video-on-demand library upon signing up. In addition to live Raw and SmackDown pre- and post-shows every week, new programming including a live studio show and additional on-demand content will be added in the future.

At launch, WWE Network will include:

All 12 Live Pay-Per-View Events

All 12 current WWE pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania – will be available to subscribers live, as well as on demand.

Live pay-per-view 30 minute pre- and post-shows.

Original Programming

Every Monday and Friday night, WWE Network will air 30 minute pre- and post-shows for WWE’s weekly cable programs Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

The Monday Night War™ – a series exploring the shocking real-life stories that fueled the mid-90s rivalry between WWE and WCW®. Battling for ratings dominance, WWE’s Vince McMahon and WCW’s Ted Turner engaged in a masterful game of one-upmanship, and in the process, elevated WWE Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro™ to all-new levels of pop-culture relevance.

WrestleMania Rewind – a comprehensive look back at the most groundbreaking matches and dramatic moments in WrestleMania history, including never-before-seen footage and in-depth interviews.

WWE Countdown™ – a one hour, groundbreaking, interactive, countdown series that puts the power squarely in viewers’ hands by giving the audience the chance to discuss and rank WWE’s most spectacular Superstars, unexpected moments, best catch phrases and more through digital polling and social media interaction.

Coming in April: WWE Legends House™ – WWE’s greatest Legends reunite for a new title – only this time, they’re competing outside of the ring. Imagine a beautiful house in the suburbs – perfectly furnished, with gorgeous landscaping, a lovely pool and quiet, respectable neighbors. WWE Superstars from the past including Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will turn the neighborhood upside down as the house staff tries their best to keep these Legends on time, on speaking terms, and out of trouble in this new reality show.

WWE NXT® – WWE Superstars and Divas of tomorrow face off every week on WWE NXT, a one-hour weekly show that features the brightest and best of WWE’s rising stars. WWE NXT showcases the Superstars and Divas from WWE’s Performance Center as well as appearances from WWE Superstars and Legends in an intimate setting. WWE NXT broadcasts from the state-of-the-art Full Sail LIVE venue on the Full Sail University in campus in Orlando, Florida.

WWE Superstars® – a one-hour weekly show highlighting the best of WWE Superstars and Divas in heart-pounding matches. Features highlights from all WWE programming, as well as a special glimpse at everything going on in the WWE Universe.

Video On Demand

WWE Network will offer all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views as well as classic matches uncut and uncensored, encores of Raw, SmackDown and WWE Main Event™ totaling more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

All episodes of original programming on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after they premiere, allowing viewers to watch on their schedule.

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(Quelle: WWE.com)

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- WWE sent us the official FAQ for the WWE Network with lots of questions answered for consumers:

1. What is WWE Network?
WWE Network is a 24/7 streaming service with both scheduled programming and an on-demand library. WWE Network will include all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania 30, groundbreaking original series, reality shows and documentaries, and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional programming, including a live daily studio show coming this summer, and video-on-demand content will be added regularly.

2. How much will a subscription to WWE Network cost?
A monthly subscription to WWE Network is $9.99 per month (plus tax where applicable) with a 6-month commitment.

3. How do fans purchase WWE Network?
To subscribe to WWE Network, fans should go to WWE.com beginning Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

4. When can fans buy WWE Network?
Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

5. When will WWE Network be available?
Live programming on WWE Network will begin on Monday, February 24 at 11:06 pm ET with a live post-show immediately following Monday Night Raw. Video-on-demand programming will be available immediately at 9:00 am ET.

6. What devices will WWE Network be available on?
WWE Network will be available on desktops and laptops via WWE.com. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation®3 and Sony PlayStation®4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer. For more information, go to wwe.com/devices.

7. If fans already have the WWE App, do they need to update it to get WWE Network?
The WWE App will automatically update on iOS and Android-powered mobile devices to play WWE Network. To watch on connected devices such as Roku streaming devices, Sony PlayStation® 3 and Sony PlayStation® 4 and Xbox 360, fans must download the new WWE App, which will be available on Monday, February 24.

8. What content will WWE Network feature?
WWE Network is a 24/7 streaming service with both scheduled programming and an on-demand library. WWE Network will include all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania 30, groundbreaking original series, reality shows and documentaries, and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional programming, including a live daily studio show coming this summer, and video-on-demand content will be added regularly.

9. Will WrestleMania be available as a part of this subscription?
Yes, WrestleMania is included with a subscription.

10. Will encores of Raw, SmackDown and Main Event be on WWE Network?
Yes, encores of these programs will be available on WWE Network.

11. Will Pay-Per-View events still be available outside WWE Network?
Yes, WWE will continue to offer individual pay-per-view events to TV providers. Fans should call their local cable or satellite provider for availability.

12. Will classic WWE content be available on WWE Network?
Yes, a WWE Network subscription will include access to the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional content will be added regularly.

13. Will "WWE Superstars" and NXT air on WWE Network?
Yes, premiere episodes of Superstars and NXT will air on WWE Network.

14. Will Raw, SmackDown and Main Event move to WWE Network?
No, Raw, SmackDown and Main Event will continue to air on their current networks – USA, Syfy and ION television, respectively.

15. Will shows on WWE Network be available in HD?
Yes, all programming on the WWE Network will be available in HD.

16. Will shows on WWE Network be available in Spanish?
Live pay-per-views will be available in Spanish. All other programming will be presented in English.

17. Will shows be closed captioned?
Yes.

18. Will WWE Network also be available through cable or satellite providers?
No, WWE Network is delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution on the following devices: desktops and laptops via WWE.com; through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation®3 and Sony PlayStation®4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

19. Will all of the programming that premieres on WWE Network also be available via on demand?
Yes, all programming that premieres on the network will become immediately available in the video-on-demand library.

20. How quickly will content that premieres on WWE Network be made available on demand?
Content that premieres on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after it airs.

21. Does WWE Network programming contain advertisements?
Most WWE programming on WWE Network will be commercial-free, however, there will be limited promotional content in select programs.

22. Is the entire WWE library available through on demand?
WWE Network will launch with more than 1,500 hours of on-demand content, including all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views. New, on-demand content will be added regularly.

23. Will WWE Network be available internationally?
Beginning Monday, February 24, WWE Network will only be available in the United States. WWE Network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

24. Will all content on WWE Network be PG?
WWE Network will contain a range of programming suitable for various audiences. Content rated TV-14 or TV-MA will be preceded by appropriate advisory messages recommending viewer discretion. Parental controls will be available for on-demand content.

25. Can parental controls be set-up on WWE Network?
Yes, parents will have the ability to block content that is rated TV-14 and TV-MA for on-demand content only. Viewer discretion is advised for live 24/7 streaming programming.

26. Who can fans call or email today if they have questions?
Customer Service support will be available beginning Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET by calling 1-866-308-5684 or emailing customerservice@wwenetwork.com. Additionally, searchable Frequently Asked Questions and live chat service will be offered starting February 24.

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Das Ganze klingt sehr, sehr gut - bis auf die Tatsache, dass es das WWE Network nicht vor dem Jahr 2015 in Deutschland geben wird.

Wer in den USA lebt und Wrestlingfan ist, muss dumm sein, wenn er bei dem Angebot nicht zuschlägt.

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- Here are some reactions from around the wrestling world on the WWE Network:

Matt Striker: "WWE Network should be awesome. Now ull know what it's like in my head all the time."

Bill DeMott: "Just so everyone understands......... Business is about to pick up! #WWENetwork! #NXTMEANSBUSINESS wwe PerformCtr"

Goldust: "Wow!!! wwe Network is here, which means there will be a whole lot of #Goldust for the wwe Universe !! Sign up now!!! wwe "

Todd Grisham: "Watched the wwe Network launch press conference. Very impressed. It's gonna be HUGE. Congrats to them!"

Natalya: "This #WWENetwork is ahead of the curve. More people than ever before can watch wwe . #EPIC."

Jim Ross: "I'm ready to subscribe to wwe Network! A fans dream come true."

Wade "Bad News" Barrett: "Tried hard to figure out some bad news from this #WWENetwork announcement. They've got me beat. Want to sponsor my podium, wwe Network??"

Mark Henry: "WWE is proud to announce the launch of the WWE Network coming on Feb 24! #WWENetwork or wwe Network. Write in for a Mark Henry show!"

Evan Bourne: "Tape trading is dead! All hail the wwe network. Straight. Up. Bargain!! WWE content everywhere, anywhere, all that long hair! $9.99!!"

Tyson Kidd: "You can't get a better deal than $9.99/month and it includes WrestleMania 30. Now we have an excuse to watch 24 hours a day #WWENetwork"

Ken Doane: "Genius for wwe @StephMcMahon TripleH to have a network. BIG Data at its finest. #BetterBusiness"

Matt Hardy: "Congratulations to the wwe & the McMahons on the launch of the wwe Network. This is a huge breakthrough that will change the game."

Tommy Dreamer: "I am a wwe shareholder do the math 200k buys at $60 a piece or 2-3 million buys at $10 a piece?! $12M or $23M per month! wwe Network"

"Feb 24th wwe Network means I'm on TV 24/7 , I have no bald spot, & my indy price just doubled. IM BACK BABY."

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