Triple H discusses WWE Raw’s runtime, ratings ahead of move to Netflix – Cageside Seats
Filed under:Regarding Raw’s move to Netflix, Triple H said, “I think we’ll have a little bit more freedom in the format here.”As WWE’s Raw makes its highly anticipated move to Netflix this Monday, fans can expect a shift in presentation. In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, shared some details about the changes ahead.Before, Levesque had been vague on Raw’s impending runtime on the streaming giant. While speaking with Traina, Levesque revealed that Raw will no longer be shackled by its past limitations. “It’ll be flexible in that I don’t think necessarily the time constraints of network television or cable television apply,” he stated. That flexibility will allow WWE to deliver content that meets its storytelling goals and Netflix’s business model.According to Levesque, the ideal runtime for a wrestling show is two and a half hours. He explained that, in the past, if a segment ran over its allotted time, it would have to cut time from the rest of the show to fit its scheduled TV time and ad breaks. With the flexibility that Netflix provides, such problems could be a thing of the past.“I think we’ll have a little bit more freedom in the format here,” said Levesque.In addition to runtime flexibility, another significant change is that fans won’t have to DVR the show. Levesque said that each episode of Raw will be available for streaming as soon as it ends. Additionally, fans can tune into Raw at any point while it’s live and start the show from the beginning.Because viewers can go back and watch Raw at their leisure, that could mean a potential change in viewing habits. Traina asked Levesque how WWE would view Raw as a success compared to the previous metric of TV ratings.“Success is going to be deemed by what Netflix believes is successful,” said Levesque, who expects viewership to grow over time. He also believes people will watch Raw at their convenience.As fans talk about the show after it airs, Levesque expects more people to tune in. For example, Levesque cited Tiffany Stratton’s recent Money in the Bank cash-in. He estimated that 5 to 10 million people saw it on social media compared to those who watched it on SmackDown on the USA Network. Ultimately, what could matter most is the accumulated views each episode of Raw generates.“It’s a different metric because it’s not just live. It’s live. It’s same day, it’s three-day, it’s seven-day, all of that. It’s all important,” said Levesque.Check your inbox for a welcome email.Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.
