Craig Anderson is a Maryland native who is a staunch advocate, reader, and supporter of all things Pro-Wrestling, as well as all things CDWS. As breaking Sports Entertainment news happens, Craig is consistently at the forefront in terms of capture and analysis. With that in mind, Craig had a few thoughts on the transition from WWE Classics on Demand to the WWE Network…
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It looks like the WWE is consolidating its Premium Cable content and going all in on the launch of WWE Network in April.
Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online is reporting this morning that the company has given notice to Cable Operators that they are discontinuing the premium Classics On Demand service at the end of the year.
WWE has sent notice to cable companies that its Classics on Demand service will be discontinued as of 12/31.
This is due to creating the WWE network. - f4wonline.com
The service began in 2004 as WWE 24/7 and has been one of two venues for the WWE’s huge catalog of wrestling footage from promotions like WCW, NWA, WCCW, AWA, SMW and more.
As a super nerdy wrestling fan and Classics On Demand subscriber since 2006 this is bittersweet news. Over the past 6 years subscribers have gotten access to an amazing amount of programming for $8-$10 a month. The Legends of Wrestling roundtable shoot discussion series itself was worth the price of subscription. The on demand service and its offerings of old Madison Square Garden House Shows, Monday Night Wars, recent PPVs, and more will truly be missed.
I am excited for the launch of WWE Network and I truly believe this move shows that the company is serious about making the network a success. There were concerns that no staff had been assembled for the April 2012 launch but with this news its clear to see the Classics On Demand team is most likely being refocused on WWE Network.
Selfishly, I’m wondering how much of the old wrasslin’ footage will make air on the new network. While nerds like me love watching Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon argue on episodes of Prime Time Wrestling or relive the Monday Night Wars with the nWo and the Attitude Era, I don’t know about your average current WWE fan. These are the same people who barely recognized Lita and Goldust when they showed up on the Slammys.
Do they even know where “What?!” chant came from? Showing the history of the business to this demo is a double-edged sword. It could educate these mouth breathers or drastically turn them off because the 80’s style isn’t as friendly to the ADD culture used to 3-minute matches on Raw.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Do you want Attitude Era or other Old School Wrestling on the WWE Network? Or are you looking for much of what has been pitched, such as reality programs with WWE Superstars?
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i hope that they show the old school stuff.
nice. Good post
I will miss Classics On Demand greatly. One of the biggest benefits for me was being able to pick and choose from the offerings without having to take up space on my DVR. Plus, archival footage will always trump “me-too” reality programming for me, especially given the track record that WWE has when it comes to producing “me-too” types of content to cash in on an already-stale trend.
Any word on whether the comparable (from what I’ve read) online service will continue? Will it essentially become what Classics on Demand was? If so, it might be time to invest in that laptop to hook up to the TV.