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WWE News
WWE News: WWE planning to launch cable TV network Aug 24, 2009 - 2:30:36 AM
WWE chairman Vince McMahon told the L.A. Times that he plans to launch a WWE cable TV network "within two years." McMahon was interviewed by the Times in a feature story on last night's Summerslam PPV from the Staples Center in L.A.
McMahon said he feels confident they will be successful because WWE has "a lot of clout" in the entertainment industry. He said their diversified businesses in movies, music, and having an extensive video library at their disposal will help them create content for a cable channel.
With WWE becoming more and more of an entertainment company, it's becoming more and more difficult to justify WWE talent not being represented by agents or having union protection from the Screen Actor's Guild. McMahon told the Times he just doesn't want to deal with that.
"I'm not a real fan of agents," McMahon said. "As long as you are fair with everyone, why would you have an agent?" McMahon added that WWE's top stars make "several million dollars a year."
Big Show defended McMahon. He said: "Vince will take care of you."
Caldwell's Analysis: The same ol' pattern in play here. McMahon keeps the top guys happy with big money contracts and a nice cut of the merchandise sales. These same top guys have the power to demand change - just like Cena had the power to push for TV PG - and create protection for all wrestlers on the roster, but they opt to keep their top spots safe by not rocking the boat with that pesky union talk. McMahon might "take care" of the wrestlers, but as Kevin Nash pointed out in his Newsday interview two weeks ago, the WWE contracts indicate WWE can fire a wrestler at the drop of the hat for no reason at all. Wrestlers being part of some union, whether it's SAG or a wrestler-created organization, would provide necessary protection to where a guy like Matt Hardy doesn't feel the need to hide a life-or-death ailment from WWE management because he doesn't want to lose his spot.
Link:L.A. Times Report.
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