NXT probably moving to Tuesdays

[Emperor Smeat]

A very interesting twist to the rumors of NXT moving to a new night occurred today.

ESPN is currently rumored to have signed a multi-year deal with NHL to air their games starting next season.

Its currently not known if NBC is renewing their deal with NHL after this season nor if ESPN will become the exclusive broadcaster for games in the US.

Originally Posted by SportsNet Significant murmurs surfaced Tuesday that the NHL has sewn up one-half of its new U.S. media rights package. ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal to become one of the league's media partners starting next season, according to multiple league and industry sources. There was no confirmation from the NHL on an agreement that is expected to see ESPN get the rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights for Disney. Financial terms of the deal weren't immediately available, nor was it clear which other media company would split the package with ESPN. NBC currently pays $200 million annually for exclusive U.S. media rights that expire after this season.

[Emperor Smeat]

ESPN made it official, they signed a 7-year deal with the NHL to air hockey games but only for 25 games per season, some playoff games, and 4 Stanley Cup series. Plus some exclusive regular season games for their ESPN+ streaming service.

What it means for NBC beyond this season and NXT's airing status on USA Network is still unknown since the ESPN deal isn't exclusive for the US.

Originally Posted by ESPN ESPN and the NHL announced a seven-year deal on Wednesday, returning hockey to ESPN for the first time since 2004. Included will be 25 regular-season games on ESPN or ABC, early-round playoff series and one conference final each year, four Stanley Cup Final series on ABC and more than 1,000 games per season streaming on ESPN+. ESPN+ and Hulu will be home to 75 ESPN-produced exclusive telecasts per season. The deal also includes opening-night games, the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Challenge and other special events. The NHL's out-of-market streaming package (NHL.TV) is also moving to ESPN+ as part of its subscription offerings.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...iplatform-deal

[Jordan]

I'm not understanding what this has to do with NXT moving to Tuesday, can you explain?

[Emperor Smeat]

NBC is moving all of their remaining NHL games this season to USA Network because they are shutting down NBCSN, which airs NHL games on Wednesdays. The current rumor is NXT will be moving to Tuesdays starting in mid-April since NBC is expected to keep the Wednesdays spot for NHL games on USA Network.

After this season, nobody knows if NXT will be staying on Tuesdays since NBC's deal with the NHL expires after this season. If NBC renews, then NXT likely is staying on Tuesdays and if they don't, NXT can potentially move back to Wednesdays.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat NBC is moving all of their remaining NHL games this season to USA Network because they are shutting down NBCSN, which airs NHL games on Wednesdays. The current rumor is NXT will be moving to Tuesdays starting in mid-April since NBC is expected to keep the Wednesdays spot for NHL games on USA Network. After this season, nobody knows if NXT will be staying on Tuesdays since NBC's deal with the NHL expires after this season. If NBC renews, then NXT likely is staying on Tuesdays and if they don't, NXT can potentially move back to Wednesdays.

But I thought people here said NXT were moving to Tuesday's because they were so afraid of AEW?!?!?!?

[IC Champion]

Sure, getting booted for NHL is so much better.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by IC Champion Sure, getting booted for NHL is so much better.

It is, because we don't have to pretend AEW scared them off by getting 100,000 more viewers on a 10 times larger budget anymore.

[IC Champion]

Pretend? It’s what happened. They weren’t a ratings draw and got pushed aside for like the 6th most popular sport in America. That’s a fail.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by IC Champion Pretend? It’s what happened. They weren’t a ratings draw and got pushed aside for like the 6th most popular sport in America. That’s a fail.

It's not though, they aren't choosing to move to Tuesday because of anything AEW. That is the narrative that is pretend.

Is getting bumped by the NHL good? I mean not really, but it is not truthful to play it as retreating to Tuesday's because of big bad AEW.

[joshwoodsrohfandm]

If it was moved to Thursday.... you have Raw, Impact, AEW, NXT, Smackdown, ROH on Sunday afternoons. I can see a reasoning for Tuesday but that's just me... I find NXT Thursday would be best but Tuesday is fine i guess.

[Emperor Smeat]

Originally Posted by joshwoodsrohfandm If it was moved to Thursday.... you have Raw, Impact, AEW, NXT, Smackdown, ROH on Sunday afternoons. I can see a reasoning for Tuesday but that's just me... I find NXT Thursday would be best but Tuesday is fine i guess.

Not sure what NBC's sports commitments are for Thursdays but I wouldn't move to that date since that would mean NXT having to go against NFL's Thursday Night games for a good chunk of the year.

Its bad enough RAW struggles against NFL's Monday Night games, WWE doesn't need two of their main shows to deal with that problem every year.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to recent reports from Sportsnet and New York Post, NBC is currently in talks in regards to potentially renewing their deal with the NHL but on a smaller scale due to ESPN's recent deal with the league. If it happens, USA Network will have the Wednesday games due to ESPN's current commitments with the NBA for that night.

FOX also reportedly is currently in talks for a potential deal to carry NHL games.

Based on the reports, NHL is only interested in signing two new major tv deals in the US so either NBC or FOX will miss out in the end.

[hb2k]

Originally Posted by xrodmuc316 LOL you are high. Giving million dollar deals to washed up 50 year olds on a $45 million annual contract is more profitable then a roster full of people making $150k with a $50 million tv deal? You are going to get an audit using that kind of math And you also missed the point about Canada completely...

Only just saw this.

You got the value of NXT's TV deal wrong. Also, NXT has been losing money since the start of them running. That's also been in those public reports you mentioned as part of your argument.

Thanks for playing.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by hb2k Only just saw this. You got the value of NXT's TV deal wrong. Also, NXT has been losing money since the start of them running. That's also been in those public reports you mentioned as part of your argument. Thanks for playing.

AEW is not profitable, no matter how many times Dave Meltzer says it is. It is a passion project Tony Khan got his father to foot the bill for.

There is 0 ways they can give every wrestler the "biggest and best contract of their whole careers" while the only revenue they get is a lower value TV deal, a few dollars on 50,000 t-shirts from pro wrestling tees, and PPVs that get 125,000 buys 4 times a year.

NXT was not meant to turn a profit, but then they got a TV deal which at the very least turned whatever they were losing into a profit threefold. That is not even counting the WWE ad rate deals, nor whatever way WWE wants to classify NXT's share of that new $200 Million a year Peacock deal and the overseas WWE Network subscribers.

Nobody on NXT's roster is making a million dollars a year. AEW is paying that to a 50 year old commentator for their lower profile YouTube show.

If you knew anything about P&L reports, there is no column for "daddy gave me more money, yay we are profitable".

[Emperor Smeat]

According to PWI, NXT is moving to Tuesdays for at least the entire month of April based on WWE's taping schedule for that month. Could end up being a permanent move afterwards.

PWI also speculating Impact Wrestling likely will be moving to Thursdays to avoid competing against NXT.

[screech]

rasslin on every night of the week, then? nice

[erickman]

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat According to PWI, NXT is moving to Tuesdays for at least the entire month of April based on WWE's taping schedule for that month. Could end up being a permanent move afterwards. PWI also speculating Impact Wrestling likely will be moving to Thursdays to avoid competing against NXT.

good thing about impact owning axis, with the move to thur don can buy ads on tnt during the aew show. they can do nwo type ads.

[hb2k]

Originally Posted by xrodmuc316 AEW is not profitable, no matter how many times Dave Meltzer says it is. It is a passion project Tony Khan got his father to foot the bill for. There is 0 ways they can give every wrestler the "biggest and best contract of their whole careers" while the only revenue they get is a lower value TV deal, a few dollars on 50,000 t-shirts from pro wrestling tees, and PPVs that get 125,000 buys 4 times a year. NXT was not meant to turn a profit, but then they got a TV deal which at the very least turned whatever they were losing into a profit threefold. That is not even counting the WWE ad rate deals, nor whatever way WWE wants to classify NXT's share of that new $200 Million a year Peacock deal and the overseas WWE Network subscribers. Nobody on NXT's roster is making a million dollars a year. AEW is paying that to a 50 year old commentator for their lower profile YouTube show. If you knew anything about P&L reports, there is no column for "daddy gave me more money, yay we are profitable".

That's right, we shouldn't trust a reporter who actually knows the details, but rather a troll who didn't have his facts straight. AEW's TV deal pays them $15 million more than NXT's does, they have PPV revenue that NXT doesn't in the neighbourhood of $10-15 million a year, live ticket sales that were strong pre-pandemic and merch as a cherry on top. Oh, and they actually do get a cut of those ad sales, unlike NXT that was reported as only getting a flat fee, which if true, you also got wrong.

Here's a tidbit regarding NXT's profitability - "WWE co-president George Barrios was asked on the earnings call on October 31, 2019 if NXT (which debuted on USA the month prior) was now an EBITDA contributor. He declined to answer and deflected to emphasizing the long-term opportunity of monetizing NXT."

Sure doesn't sound that deal is making them money. But whatever, you've already decided the answer in your own mind.

[drave]

*Waits for generic meme and/or but but.....*

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by hb2k That's right, we shouldn't trust a reporter who actually knows the details, but rather a troll who didn't have his facts straight. AEW's TV deal pays them $15 million more than NXT's does, they have PPV revenue that NXT doesn't in the neighbourhood of $10-15 million a year, live ticket sales that were strong pre-pandemic and merch as a cherry on top. Oh, and they actually do get a cut of those ad sales, unlike NXT that was reported as only getting a flat fee, which if true, you also got wrong. Here's a tidbit regarding NXT's profitability - "WWE co-president George Barrios was asked on the earnings call on October 31, 2019 if NXT (which debuted on USA the month prior) was now an EBITDA contributor. He declined to answer and deflected to emphasizing the long-term opportunity of monetizing NXT." Sure doesn't sound that deal is making them money. But whatever, you've already decided the answer in your own mind.

1. AEW is not netting $10-15 million a year for their PPVs, especially when Meltzer lies about the Gross by $2 million.
2. NXT is not it's own entity, it is a part of the company that is getting paid $200 million a year for its content, including its PPVs. That is $16.67 million a month. 1 month is higher gross than your AEW PPV claim. There is no way to determine how much of that deal is credited to NXT specifically without WWE's accounting practices, but the money is being paid.
3. Meltzer himself reported NXT was getting "at least $50 million". In fact, he only changed that narrative after AEW's deal was not as good.

https://wrestling-edge.com/wwe-repor...h-nxt-tv-deal/
https://www.sescoops.com/2019/08/det...v-rights-fees/

None of those points though even address the biggest factor, payroll. AEW's TV deal would need to be AT LEAST 5 times more than NXT's to cover the difference in roster costs.

Since its not, it is all moot.

[weather vane]

hagaaaaaay.gif

[hb2k]

So hold on, is Meltzer credible to you or not? You seem to blow hot and cold on the validity of his claims depending on whether or not it suits your argument, surprisingly enough.

How the fuck would you know if Meltzer is off by two million per PPV for revenue? That's just making shit up. Revolution was pegged at 5 to 7 million of revenue, of which AEW gets half. Four PPVs a year - if its only the low end, that's 10 million a year.

Thanks for the breaking news that NXT is not its own entity. Meltzer did say it was in the 50 million ballpark - BEFORE the investors call, at which point he revised it to 30 million, and Curry Baker of Guggenheim Securities also independently pegged it at 30 million based on tracked income under that division in the filings.

Nobody is denying WWE as an entity makes more money. But your assessment that AEW doesn't make money is completely baseless. NXT made very little on live attendance (TakeOver crowds four to five times a year) with Full Sail being free entry. There no proof NXT is a difference maker on the Network in terms of subscriptions. They don't ad share. They get $30 million flat. AEW gets $45 million, ad share, PPV, live attendance, licensing and sponsorship. NXT itself doesn't get the latter two, WWE does and would regardless.

Ultimately, it's comparing an apple to an orange, but you're insisting the apple is more orange, for some reason. As for payroll, that's certainly higher for AEW, but not everybody is on a million dollar deal and with income off-setting it, there's no evidence it's a problem. One company cut contracts on a pandemic, the other didn't. Do you think if they were losing millions they wouldn't?

It's amazing, really. Every startup company for 30 or 40 years had early years that were loss leaders (or just went on to never be profitable), and AEW hasn't, but some people are desperate to call it an economic failure when all the evidence points the other way. It's sad really.

[screech]

Originally Posted by drave *Waits for generic meme and/or but but.....*

Also "but I clearly DON'T hate AEW, guys! Read my posts!"

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by hb2k So hold on, is Meltzer credible to you or not? You seem to blow hot and cold on the validity of his claims depending on whether or not it suits your argument, surprisingly enough. How the fuck would you know if Meltzer is off by two million per PPV for revenue? That's just making shit up. Revolution was pegged at 5 to 7 million of revenue, of which AEW gets half. Four PPVs a year - if its only the low end, that's 10 million a year. Thanks for the breaking news that NXT is not its own entity. Meltzer did say it was in the 50 million ballpark - BEFORE the investors call, at which point he revised it to 30 million, and Curry Baker of Guggenheim Securities also independently pegged it at 30 million based on tracked income under that division in the filings. Nobody is denying WWE as an entity makes more money. But your assessment that AEW doesn't make money is completely baseless. NXT made very little on live attendance (TakeOver crowds four to five times a year) with Full Sail being free entry. There no proof NXT is a difference maker on the Network in terms of subscriptions. They don't ad share. They get $30 million flat. AEW gets $45 million, ad share, PPV, live attendance, licensing and sponsorship. NXT itself doesn't get the latter two, WWE does and would regardless. Ultimately, it's comparing an apple to an orange, but you're insisting the apple is more orange, for some reason. As for payroll, that's certainly higher for AEW, but not everybody is on a million dollar deal and with income off-setting it, there's no evidence it's a problem. One company cut contracts on a pandemic, the other didn't. Do you think if they were losing millions they wouldn't? It's amazing, really. Every startup company for 30 or 40 years had early years that were loss leaders (or just went on to never be profitable), and AEW hasn't, but some people are desperate to call it an economic failure when all the evidence points the other way. It's sad really.

He is not, that is the point. He is full of shit.

If the biggest cost is talent, and AEW has a massive payroll, let's say 5 times bigger than NXT, then AEW's TV deal/revenue would need to be 5 times larger than NXT to break even.

But it isn't. Maybe with all revenue streams they gross twice as much as NXT, but they are certainly spending more than twice what NXT does.

Jericho himself probably makes half per year of the entire card of NXT Takeover Vengeance Day added together. That included 15 wrestlers on the card.

It is just simple finances, the more you spend, the more you have to earn.

[hb2k]

I see what you mean, but that isn't strictly true from a maths perspective.

If NXT is spending, I don't know, lets say $8 million on talent, and by your theory, AEW was five times higher at $40 million (which seems extreme, but this is all theory) - AEW doesn't need five times NXT's TV deal (unless NXT was spending every penny of the TV deal on talent), it just needs 40 million, bottom line. If NXT had a TV deal worth 12 million, AEW doesn't therefore need 60, it still just needs 40. And since TV isn't the only revenue AEW has (whereas it IS NXT's only source), then one really has nothing to do with the other so long as they foot the bill.

You are assuming talent cost is the biggest factor, when production of the TV show is probably higher or equal, in truth, particularly when they were live weekly. AEW off-set production costs with live attendance, which NXT couldn't do at Full Sail. And that's just the new deal, on the original deal TNT was paying for production, so live attendance money was all theirs, whereas WWE paid for production from day one.

The fact Barrios went out of his way not to say NXT was profitable, even with the $30 million TV deal, means that if either company was a case of daddy throwing money at the wall to fund a playground agenda, its NXT, not AEW.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by hb2k I see what you mean, but that isn't strictly true from a maths perspective. If NXT is spending, I don't know, lets say $8 million on talent, and by your theory, AEW was five times higher at $40 million (which seems extreme, but this is all theory) - AEW doesn't need five times NXT's TV deal (unless NXT was spending every penny of the TV deal on talent), it just needs 40 million, bottom line. If NXT had a TV deal worth 12 million, AEW doesn't therefore need 60, it still just needs 40. And since TV isn't the only revenue AEW has (whereas it IS NXT's only source), then one really has nothing to do with the other so long as they foot the bill. You are assuming talent cost is the biggest factor, when production of the TV show is probably higher or equal, in truth, particularly when they were live weekly. AEW off-set production costs with live attendance, which NXT couldn't do at Full Sail. And that's just the new deal, on the original deal TNT was paying for production, so live attendance money was all theirs, whereas WWE paid for production from day one. The fact Barrios went out of his way not to say NXT was profitable, even with the $30 million TV deal, means that if either company was a case of daddy throwing money at the wall to fund a playground agenda, its NXT, not AEW.

You are absolutely right, I got caught up in the which brand is more profitable, not in terms of actual dollar amount, but which had more of a profit percentage.

I concede.

[xrodmuc316]

Well, they didn't just move, they got a new multi year TV contract extension.

Vince can't stop making money.

[Jordan]

The more money that he makes the worse the product is.

[IC Champion]

AEW bullied Vince McMahon into moving to Tuesday. The same way that big bad billionaire tried to run him out of business in the 90s, after Vince killed every single territory.

[xrodmuc316]

Originally Posted by IC Champion AEW bullied Vince McMahon into moving to Tuesday. The same way that big bad billionaire tried to run him out of business in the 90s, after Vince killed every single territory.

*According to Meltzer*

Meltzer, who does not have any sources in WWE, made that bullied off Wednesday shit up, then numerous actual journalist confirmed nobody said anything like that. Then Meltzer issues a retraction like it was just an accidental error, when really it was just his unethical piece of shut self shilling for AEW, and gullible fanboys come out of the woodwork to celebrate like they are on AEW's payroll and got a bonus check.

And you wonder why AEW isn't more successful mainstream with these tryhards driving away every casual fan they can.

[hb2k]

Originally Posted by xrodmuc316 *According to Meltzer* Meltzer, who does not have any sources in WWE, made that bullied off Wednesday shit up, then numerous actual journalist confirmed nobody said anything like that. Then Meltzer issues a retraction like it was just an accidental error, when really it was just his unethical piece of shut self shilling for AEW, and gullible fanboys come out of the woodwork to celebrate like they are on AEW's payroll and got a bonus check. And you wonder why AEW isn't more successful mainstream with these tryhards driving away every casual fan they can.

I know for a fact he knows somebody well who has been high up in the writing team for years. If he knows him, there's guaranteed to be plenty of other connections he has.

[IC Champion]

Originally Posted by xrodmuc316 *According to Meltzer* Meltzer, who does not have any sources in WWE, made that bullied off Wednesday shit up, then numerous actual journalist confirmed nobody said anything like that. Then Meltzer issues a retraction like it was just an accidental error, when really it was just his unethical piece of shut self shilling for AEW, and gullible fanboys come out of the woodwork to celebrate like they are on AEW's payroll and got a bonus check. And you wonder why AEW isn't more successful mainstream with these tryhards driving away every casual fan they can.

Calm down bro. Vince is like a billionaire, he’s gonna be fine and I’m sure WWE won’t change much after he sells to NBC because he’s been beaten at his own game. He can always walk away no matter what with his head held high, his run as a promoter is unprecedented.