>>14507244If AEW's budget were still at 2019 levels, then getting 700k viewers in 2024 wouldn't be as much of an issue. But signing Mercedes, Ospreay and Okada alone nearly matches the 2019 budget that was LOADED with indy shitters who became mainstays. They've since given big money to Jay White, MJF, Adam Cole, Danielson, countless others, while not being able to maximize other revenue streams like video games, social media, merchandise, documentaries and so on
Tony put all his eggs in the media rights basket, but as he needs negotiating leverage the most, TV ratings are far below the 90-day average. There was not a sudden spike in cord-cutting in the last 90 days, AEW is slumping badly
>>14507395It's bravado but he's wrong. A large chunk of us have been turned off Hollyweird slop and cuck/woke TV shows, there's a limited amount of content that appeals to a large audience. Families will subscribe to Disney+/services with kids content, but that's only 1 subscription for 3-5+ people. The real money is in selling cable/streaming sports packages to single men and drama/reality show garbage to single women
TNT needs NBA much more than NBA needs TNT. Live content is always a draw and the average pleb doesn't want to give their PC herpes and deal with shit-quality streams just to watch the big game or the big fight.
>>14507409You say the same shit 700 times a day but this is more true than false. WWE fans tune in for WWE, tune out all else going on. WWE won't get sponsors like Lexus or Apple, college football will
>>14507446Comparing AEW ratings drop to WWE is a non-starter anyway because the payroll/revenues are so different between the two. WWE for just one example, insists on giving performers custom music so they can then monetize those themes on Spotify, YouTube, etc. AEW in general LOSES MONEY on wrestler themes because Tony pays out the ass for licensed music. AEW is so mismanaged on the non-TV side, they NEED TV money. But WBD doesn't have it to give.