Source: wrestlinginc

WWE officials are reportedly in talks to purchase the Fite TV streaming platform, according to a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Fite currently streams live events from several genres, including pro wrestling, MMA, boxing, and kickboxing. Their wrestling partners include AEW, NJPW, ROH, MLW, GCW, WLW, Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, Impact Wrestling, the Reality of Wrestling promotion owned by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, and several other lower level indie companies.

There's no word yet on how far along the WWE - Fite talks are, but word is that there are upcoming meetings scheduled between the two sides.

WWE purchasing Fite could make for an interesting move in the WWE vs. AEW rivalry. The Observer notes that this would shut down AEW's leading streaming partner. In addition to B/R Live, AEW would likely be able to get a new streaming partner within the Turner family, which may end up happening anyway.

Stay tuned for updates on the WWE-Fite talks. It was also noted that just because further meetings are scheduled, that doesn't mean that a deal will be reached as WWE often has negotiations with other companies and nothing ever comes of them.




Quote From WON:

how do you kill the indie PPV business? you buy their indie PPV outlet.

Greed, man. It's a bitch

What do you mean "main" outlet? Most of those companies also have their own service that they'd prefer you use.

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:06 What do you mean "main" outlet? Most of those companies also have their own service that they'd prefer you use.

only ROH has a PPV engine. Impact is barely starting, but it's not PPV money, nor PPV tested. AEW could likely figure it out quickly with B/R Live. MLW is just now signing a deal to do fite.tv ppvs. For many other companies, it's the only way to watch PPVs outside the US, like Fite.TV is the place to go during WM weekend too.

that's not counting a ton of boxing and MMA groups that would get affected too.

it definitely hurt a lot of people for something that WWE doesn't need at all

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 13:04

That's refreshing, but still a little nerve racking that they're on Vince's radar. Sure they're not in talks right now, but will they be when Vince tells them how many zero's he's willing to put on the check?

It's Black Saturday all over again in the streaming age.



Holy shit, though... can you just imagine what that'd do if they merged Fite TV as is with WWE Network? Boxing, MMA, along with all the Indy Shows!? Good Lord!

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:30

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:06 What do you mean "main" outlet? Most of those companies also have their own service that they'd prefer you use.

only ROH has a PPV engine. Impact is barely starting, but it's not PPV money, nor PPV tested. AEW could likely figure it out quickly with B/R Live. MLW is just now signing a deal to do fite.tv ppvs. For many other companies, it's the only way to watch PPVs outside the US, like Fite.TV is the place to go during WM weekend too.

that's not counting a ton of boxing and MMA groups that would get affected too.

it definitely hurt a lot of people for something that WWE doesn't need at all

Those other companies can't go to SmartMark or Powerbomb.TV or HighSpots? Or work with Vimeo like a lost of the European promotions (plus CZW and IWA-MS) are doing?

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 02:04

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:30

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:06 What do you mean "main" outlet? Most of those companies also have their own service that they'd prefer you use.

only ROH has a PPV engine. Impact is barely starting, but it's not PPV money, nor PPV tested. AEW could likely figure it out quickly with B/R Live. MLW is just now signing a deal to do fite.tv ppvs. For many other companies, it's the only way to watch PPVs outside the US, like Fite.TV is the place to go during WM weekend too.

that's not counting a ton of boxing and MMA groups that would get affected too.

it definitely hurt a lot of people for something that WWE doesn't need at all

Those other companies can't go to SmartMark or Powerbomb.TV or HighSpots? Or work with Vimeo like a lost of the European promotions (plus CZW and IWA-MS) are doing?

Of course they can, but none of them are really at the level of Fite. I haven't hear any praise for the iPPV work. It's not the end of the Indies, bit WWE doesn't need it and it would create a pain in the ass for the rest

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 08:52

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 02:04

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 9th, '19, 11:30

only ROH has a PPV engine. Impact is barely starting, but it's not PPV money, nor PPV tested. AEW could likely figure it out quickly with B/R Live. MLW is just now signing a deal to do fite.tv ppvs. For many other companies, it's the only way to watch PPVs outside the US, like Fite.TV is the place to go during WM weekend too.

that's not counting a ton of boxing and MMA groups that would get affected too.

it definitely hurt a lot of people for something that WWE doesn't need at all

Those other companies can't go to SmartMark or Powerbomb.TV or HighSpots? Or work with Vimeo like a lost of the European promotions (plus CZW and IWA-MS) are doing?

Of course they can, but none of them are really at the level of Fite. I haven't hear any praise for the iPPV work. It's not the end of the Indies, bit WWE doesn't need it and it would create a pain in the ass for the rest

Why doesn't WWE need it? Fite runs rather smoothly by all accounts, while the Network is often frustrating. They're trying to upgrade themselves.

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 09:41
Why doesn't WWE need it? Fite runs rather smoothly by all accounts, while the Network is often frustrating. They're trying to upgrade themselves.

they're a billion dollar company, they could hire professional engineers, they could likely buy a streaming software that is behind most streaming services, you don't have to buy the one specifically that AEW and other wrestling promotions are using

cero2k wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 18:43

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 09:41
Why doesn't WWE need it? Fite runs rather smoothly by all accounts, while the Network is often frustrating. They're trying to upgrade themselves.

they're a billion dollar company, they could hire professional engineers, they could likely buy a streaming software that is behind most streaming services, you don't have to buy the one specifically that AEW and other wrestling promotions are using

Why not? It appears to me the most popular streaming service in WWE's genre , so why not get the experts? The MLB people or whoever WWE have been using are clearly not up to snuff.

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Aug 11th, '19, 19:02
Why not? It appears to me the most popular streaming service in WWE's genre , so why not get the experts? The MLB people or whoever WWE have been using are clearly not up to snuff.

because not every capitalist move has to fuck up other people. Pay engineers and create jobs.