WWE Network is finally coming!

On Feb. 24, the long-awaited, long-delayed WWE Network finally arrives...in the US!
Canadians like me will have to wait until the summer or later.

Poo.

There are some nifty features that come with the WWE Network, which the company boasts is the "first 24-hour network of its kind." I'd have to do some research to dispute them, but the content they're promising is pretty impressive.

It will be a subscription based service like Netflix for $9.99 a month, and with that comes access to an archive of every past pay-per-view (and some key shows), pre- and post-shows for regular programs, HD replays of programs, new programming (including another reality show), availability on laptops, smart phones and tablets, and best of all--every new WWE pay-per-view at no additional cost!

That last feature alone is well worth the price.

Normally, a WWE pay-per-view costs about $40, and that's not $40 x 12; there are more than 12 pay-per-views a year. The cost to buy every pay-per-view a year right now: $675! The cost of every pay-per-view with the WWE Network? $120! That is a significant discount. And it makes sense.

WWE pay-per-views sales aren't as strong as they once were, especially since many fans admit to watching streams of the events for free on-line. They're just too expensive, and unless you go to a movie theater to watch them (like I do) or have a viewing party where everyone splits the bill (like I rarely do), you probably don't want to pay $40 to watch a 3-hour program by yourself. (FYI, movie theater tickets are about $15, and it's like one big viewing party sometimes. It's the one time I don't mind people talking in the theater -- especially when people start chants!)

However, having checked out some of these free streams, the quality is often very poor and sometimes the streams flat-out crash in the middle of a show. This generous discount through the WWE Network should hopefully encourage people to PAY for their pay-per-views. That way, the WWE can get paid for the entertainment they're providing (the best matches/match-ups are always saved for pay-per-views), and WWE fans can get HD pay-per-views for 25 per cent the usual cost. As my Public Relation instructor often says, "it's a win-win" (right after he says never to say that).

In any case, I know I'll be subscribing to the WWE Network the moment it's available in Canada.

Until next time, have a nice day, and don't be a jabroni.