Big WWE Network Changes: 10 Things You Need To Know

One of the most popular requests for the WWE Network has been for the service to start airing Raw and Smackdown live, or at least sooner than 30 days after they occur. That would allow international viewers without WWE access and "cord-cutters" - people who have eschewed the traditional cable model in favor of streaming channels - the opportunity to watch the show without delay and as part of an overall WWE package.

That expectation, unfortunately, isn't really realistic. The USA Network pays WWE hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the broadcast rights to Raw and Smackdown, and undercutting their ratings by airing episodes of the shows elsewhere would not sit well with USA (or international broadcasters in similar situations). Taking Raw and Smackdown off of USA and moving them to the network would spell financial crisis for WWE, as they would not have the monetary influx they get from the USA contract. They also wouldn't be able to create new casual viewers out of fans who see wrestling on free TV.

Still, there was the potential for a workaround: earlier this year, WWE floated a survey to fans inquiring as to whether they'd pay $12.99 a month for a version of the network that aired Raw and Smackdown on a one-day delay. The extra revenue from the subscriptions would go to pay broadcast networks to offset any possible ratings losses.

The fact that this plan has been dropped from the WWE's proposals for the network shows that they're no longer considering it. It also shows that all of these ideas, until they're actually announced, are just that.