In one of the worst-kept secrets around, the WWE Network does not seem to be adequately enforcing any kind of restrictions on simultaneous streaming on multiple devices from several different locations. Its a serious problem. In the age of piracy, torrents, and IP masking, WWE cannot afford to just let many people piggyback on a single subscription. While its admirable that the company is not instituting draconian limits, theres a profitable middle-ground. At this time, while its unclear how widespread this phenomenon is, the end result is that theres a net loss to WWE. We know some percentage of these "piggyback fans" would be willing to pay for their own subscription. This one change will not be an instant panacea for the Networks financial woes, but it could generate tens of thousands of new subscriptions. This ought to be fixed immediately. Other services have had to address this quandary. Netflix, for instance, moved to a solution where users can select their plan (1 screen in SD, 2 screens in HD, 4 screens in HD) for different prices. This is exactly the sort of approach WWE ought to pursue. Striking the balance between clamping down on account sharing and offering a reasonable alternative will be critical for the future of the WWE Network.
I'm a professional wrestling analyst, an improviser and an avid NES gamer. I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and I'm working on my first book (#wrestlenomics). You can contact me at chris.harrington@gmail.com or on twitter (@mookieghana)
