The Los Angeles Times reports that DirecTV is considering dropping WWE pay-per-views once the WWE Network launches at the end of February. With WWE moving their pay-per-views to the Network, which will only cost $9.99 a month and will include WrestleMania 30, DirecTV noted to The Times that they will re-evaluate their relationship with WWE.
“Clearly we need to quickly re-evaluate the economics and viability of their business with us, as it now appears the WWE feels they do not need their PPV distributors,” DirecTV said in a statement. They also noted that the audience for WWE pay-per-views “has been steadily declining, and this new low-cost competitive offering will only accelerate this trend.”
A WWE spokesperson issued a response to DirecTV’s statement, saying, “to the contrary, WWE hopes to continue to be in business with our pay-per-view distributors, ultimately giving our fans the choice between the two offerings.”
