WWE & NBC Comment On WWE Network Edits On Peacock
Official statements released as NBCU continues editing WWE Network content for Peacock.
WWE and NBCUniversal have both released statements on the ongoing editing process as the WWE Network archive continues its migration to Peacock in the United States.
NBCU, who own the Peacock platform, released the following statement to the New York Times:-
"(we are) reviewing WWE content to ensure it aligns with Peacock’s standards and practices."
WWE told the same outlet the following:-
"Peacock and WWE are reviewing all past content to ensure it fits our 2021 standards."
"2021 standards" is an interesting phrase for WWE to use, given that Japanese wrestler Akira Tozawa is still playing a one-note ninja caricature on Raw at the moment.
The WWE Network began its transition to Peacock on 18 March. Last week saw the first signs of NBCU's editing process, as moments like Vince McMahon dropping an N-bomb in front of Booker T at Survivor Series 2005 and Roddy Piper's match against Bad News Brown and promo (in which one half of his face was painted black) were removed entirely from uploads.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, NBCU was eliminating anything that didn't align with their standards and practices. The new quotes confirm this.
US-based Network subscribers have until 5 April to register for Peacock, as the old WWE Network ceases to exist in the country from that date. WWE has previously stated that it expects its full 17,000-hour content library to be on the new platform by SummerSlam 2021 (August 2021).