During last weeks WWE conference call, Vince McMahon blew off concerns about declining Raw ratings, citing the fact that many fans catch up with the show on YouTube. He also claimed that television viewership is down across the networks.
He wasnt necessarily wrong, and Raw does remain the crown jewel of USA network, but his dismissal of concerns has been called into question by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Streaming doesnt impact other big brands on television, Meltzer stated, UFC is up, football is the same.
It as if WWE are forgetting that television is their bread and butter. For half a decade now the company has obsessed over social media, and now they appear to see YouTube as the next big thing. But whether it is Twitter or YouTube, neither are really going to make WWE big money.
They make more money from television rights fees than anything else right now, Meltzer said, I think Vince is maybe getting bad advice, or maybe he actually believes it, I dont know which.
The Chairman seems to think that Raw can exist as a USA show and YouTube entity in equal measure, but hes badly misjudging his brand potential. Meltzer described it as completely illogical for McMahon to think Raw ratings drops dont really matter.
YouTube as a platform will only ever be worth so much money, relative to television it just isnt worth it for WWE. An investor on the conference call last week even highlighted that the videos WWE upload to the internet would be better used on their own platforms. Content should be on the WWE App or WWE Network, not a third party platform.
They still may be able to get good rights fees, Meltzer says, but clearly Raw ratings declines could still impact WWE in the future.
