Netflix Provides Clarification on Two Significant Matters Surrounding WWE Raw's Upcoming Premiere
WWE's renowned show, Monday Night Raw, is set to make its grand entrance on Netflix on January 6. This transition marks a significant shift for WWE, as they've aired Monday Night Raw on USA Network for over three decades.
On December 4, WWE President Nick Khan, CCO Jean Paul Levesque, and Netflix CCO Bela Bajaria had an interactive session with Variety magazine, discussing the future trajectory of WWE programming and addressing concerns regarding Netflix's server reliability.
Many have pondered over the possibility of Raw becoming more explicit once it moves to Netflix, shedding the shackles of network television censorship. However, according to Khan, this trend won't materialize.
"There's buzz online about it turning into an 'R' rated or, for the older folk, 'X' rated. But that's definitely not happening," Khan affirmed. "It's a family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly show. It'll maintain its family-friendly vibe."
WWE enthusiasts looking for a revival of the Attitude Era's adult-themed storylines won't find satisfaction in Raw. However, Khan's statement does not rule out some relaxation in language and themes. "Family-friendly" is a flexible term that can mean different things to different individuals.
Network television has become less stringent than it was decades ago.
The other significant question Khan addressed revolves around the stability of Netflix's servers as they venture into live sports. Netflix faced scathing criticism in November for server issues during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight card at Arlington Stadium on November 15.
Millions of fans reported experiencing numerous technical difficulties while trying to watch the bout. The impending broadcast of Raw, particularly its highly-anticipated debut, has raised concerns about Netflix's ability to handle the pressure.
Netflix CCO Bajaria acknowledged the problems but assured that the company had learned from the experience and was better equipped to manage upcoming live broadcasts, including the NFL on Christmas and a live Beyonce concert.
WWE's partnership with Netflix is valued at an astounding $10 billion over five years, making it one of Netflix's most lucrative collaborations.
"When we hold any live events, we want everything to run smoothly for all our members," Bajaria stated. "It's crucial. Also, it's important to note that we had 65 million concurrent streamers. That's a massive scale, which is fantastic. There was significant interest in it. When you test and push something to 65 million [streams] at the same time... you can't learn these things until you do them."
A Raw episode reaching anywhere near 65 million concurrent streamers is a distant possibility.
"We've learned from those experiences, and we've made significant preparations for the NFL and Beyonce," Bajaria continued. "We're all set and enthusiastic for the WWE."
Jean Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, WWE's Chief Content Officer, kept his stance straightforward. "If it stumbles a few times and manages to get 60 million, I'm content with that."
It's safe to say everyone at WWE and Netflix shares this sentiment.
- During the interaction with Variety, Netflix CCO Bajaria addressed concerns about their server reliability, mentioning the technical issues during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight and assuring improvements for the live broadcast of WWE Raw.
- WWE President Khan affirmed that despite the shift to Netflix, Monday Night Raw will maintain its family-friendly vibe, dismissing the possibility of it becoming more explicit or adult-themed.
- WWE's partnership with Netflix is valued at an impressive $10 billion over five years, making it one of Netflix's most significant collaborations.
- Triple H, WWE's Chief Content Officer, expressed his contentment if the live broadcast of Monday Night Raw stumbles a few times but manages to reach 60 million concurrent streamers.
