WWE Network Woes Continue - N.Y. Newspaper Reports New Details on Network Launch Struggles

The New York Post reported on WWE's woes attempting to get WWE Network off the ground, and included quotes from cable TV executives questioning whether the Network initiative is the right move for WWE.

The Post cited sources that say WWE has "yet to strike a single deal with a cable or satellite TV provider to carry its own cable channel." The other issues are WWE's inability to hire high-ranking executives to manage the Network and WWE's content having a narrow appeal.

“WWE has the programming and marketing muscle, but they just have no one with cable experience who can execute for them,” said one cable executive.

“Given the content issues, I think a whole channel would be a stretch,” said Gerri Donini, senior vice president broadcast at media-buying shop R.J. Palmer. “It is very limited in who it reaches.”

The Post also reported WWE is "expected to hire" 200 employees specific to the Network. WWE CFO George Barrios said in the quarterly conference call with investors that WWE has hired 40-45 employees.

The report cites information from WWE's fourth quarter 2011 earnings results, which saw WWE take a rare quarterly loss mainly because of initial Network expenses and the company's other project, WWE Studios.