Content consumption has shifted, says Nick Khan.
WWE never took a single week away from television throughout the entirety of the ongoing pandemic. Even when they had to perform WrestleMania 36 from an empty Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, the show went on.
Ratings numbers, especially for Monday Night Raw, woodsy record-low numbers this past year, however. When asked what, besides the return of Life crowds, WWE was planning on doing to help increase ratings and viewership to the product, WWE President Nick Khan stated on the most recent financial earnings call that he does not feel WWE has lost eyeballs at all during this turbulent time.
On the most recent WWE investor call, Nick cited the growth of digital platforms as audiences shifted from more traditional linear platforms stating that the company feels good about their position and their standing with their network partners.
“We don't believe we've lost eyeballs. We believe eyeballs tend to shift from linear to digital platforms. If you look at our Facebook numbers, which are significantly up the last six months or so, including the revenue against those numbers, we think the eyeballs are there. We're always looking to grow ratings. Now that we're coming out of a competitive Presidential race that a lot of people were focused on, we're still all in the midst of a virus that a lot of people are focused on, we believe with a continued great in-ring product that the eyeballs are continuing to grow and will result in more linear eyeballs as some of the other stuff that I just mentioned passes. We feel good about our position and we think our network partners do as well.”
Elsewhere on the investor call, Stephanie McMahon explained the shift to the NBCUniversal Peacock platform stating that the COVID-19 pandemic saw content consumption shift to streaming platforms leading to major players in the industry investing in premium content.
You can listen to the full call embedded above.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Fightful for the transcription by linking back to this article.
