WWE leaving Spike to return to the USA Network!!!

[HereticPB]

In today’s edition of the Hollywood Reporter there was a story discussing how the USA Network is looking to implement a re-branding strategy by next June. The article stated that USA is looking to acquire the NFL packages from both ABC and ESPN as well as attempting to reacquire the rights to WWE’s RAW program. Of course, the WWE is delighted that this has come about since they will now be able to market their cable TV programs and Spike will now have bidding competition which should help the WWE get a better deal with which ever network they decide to go with.

http://rajah.com/base/2004/2036

Not like the Hollywood Reporter is a correct medium though.

[HereticPB]

More background info on this:

USA Network, the last of the general entertainment cable channels to establish a clear brand image, is embarking on the biggest makeover in its 27-year history.

While stopping short of deeming the multimillion-dollar effort a rebranding, the NBC Universal-owned channel intends to refine every aspect of its image in time for a fresh wave of original programing next June. The campaign will extend from USA's logo and tagline to its on-air look and feel and its marketing.

The overhaul is unusual given that channels typically put themselves under the microscope when they are slumping. But USA is putting up its strongest ratings in years thanks to a mix of original series like "The 4400" and syndicated powerhouses like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." USA is available in 88 million homes.

Distilling the essence of USA will be doubly difficult not only because the channel's elements are so disparate -- ranging from scripted crime shows like "Monk" to a reality music competition like "Nashville Star" to U.S. Open (news - web sites) tennis coverage -- but because the network is a potential candidate to lure two of cable's most coveted franchises in the near future: the Sunday night NFL game currently on ESPN and World Wrestling Entertainment's "Raw" on Spike TV.

Walt Disney Co. is still in negotiations to retain the rights to its Sunday and Monday night games, and NBC Universal has emerged as a challenger for the ABC/ESPN package. Viacom's Spike TV is trying to bring back "Raw," but WWE is also talking to other suitors including NBC Universal.

USA's programing mix will also reap the benefits of its association with corporate sibling NBC, ranging from a greater share of future Olympic events to recycled product. NBC has quietly run its reality series "The Biggest Loser" on USA for the past month.

"All that stuff is on our radar," said Chris McCumber, USA's senior vp marketing and brand strategy, who will oversee the makeover. "Any good brand project takes into account where you will be five, 10, 15 years from now."

USA has done little in recent years to lodge its brand in viewers' minds. Its logo has been altered several times and the network heralded its commitment to original programing with the tagline "Cure for the common show."

"I think the mistake that's been made with this channel over the years is all of the branding efforts have described the programing that they've had," McCumber said. "That's fine for a short period of time."

USA hopes to have a newly established brand in place by the summer when primetime series including "Monk" and "The Dead Zone" are expected to return. But while those hits have kept USA humming, the network has also met more recent disappointments in other series launches including "Touching Evil," "Thoughtcrimes" and "Frankenstein."

http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=20521

[Kliq]

Hmmm ... different channel, same crappy storylines. I wish they'd bring go back to the whole "WWF Attitude" gimmick.

[disrupter006]

It all started going downhill with the gm shit.

[Dwhitten]

It's not the gm shit going downhill...it's the roster split. Eric Bishoff is doing an awesome job but you can only do so much with a limited roster storyline wise.

[disrupter006]

GM came before the roster split there for in my mind it lead to the roster split (it was preperation for it).

[nWo4life1949]

wwe/wwf went downhill after they took out ecw and wcw, with no competition, plus the aging stars, meanse that the good old days are over

[HereticPB]

TNA wrestling will help with the competition.

[disrupter006]

TNA was great for the 5 min. i got to see. I always miss it though. Are their any other show times besides just fridays?

[WOW! I"M HIGH]

Wrestling went down hill when it became a soap opera tour...(10 years ago)

[HereticPB]

Its always been a male soap opera all the way back to the 50s

[Shoelace]

I agree that wrestling hasn't been the same. The Wrestling was getting better then it has ever been, however, since Brock Lesnar left, it sunk. I do not think that the attude era should come back. I think that they need to something different, however, keep the hardcore stuff out of it. Too many people were injuried lately and they need to slow it down a little. They need to plan for the future, new stars. They need to stop getting the old wrestlers to sign on. Hogan is the past, stop bringing him back.