I posted part of this a while ago but never posted the second half of the article which bothers me, because it was suppose to be a two part series, but that's not the case. So I decided to go back a repost the entire article this time around.
For the last number of years many fans of pro-wrestling have had numerous arguments and criticized many a decision based on the childish nature of the event. Most fans have hated the change from TV-14 to PG as it pertains to the WWE TV content rating. Once again let’s take a trip back in the wrestling time machine to a simpler time in wrestling and many ways a time like we are in now in terms of the environment of the overall industry. In the early 1990’s WWE cut back the tires and started appealing to kids and by 1993 they almost a G rated TV show with the over top gimmicks for talent and matches. But if you were watching at this time did you ever think why they would appeal to kids instead of the teenagers. The answer is if you can get a kid hooked on wrestling when they are young they are very likely to stay hooked well into adulthood. Also think about this a lot of the older demographic of wrestling didn’t the WWE product so even though the company they watched like AWA, World Class, UWF, etc may have went under doesn’t mean that you automatically go & watch the WWE as the products were too different.
For the last number of years many fans of pro-wrestling have had numerous arguments and criticized many a decision based on the childish nature of the event. Most fans have hated the change from TV-14 to PG as it pertains to the WWE TV content rating. Once again let’s take a trip back in the wrestling time machine to a simpler time in wrestling and many ways a time like we are in now in terms of the environment of the overall industry. In the early 1990’s WWE cut back the tires and started appealing to kids and by 1993 they almost a G rated TV show with the over top gimmicks for talent and matches. But if you were watching at this time did you ever think why they would appeal to kids instead of the teenagers. The answer is if you can get a kid hooked on wrestling when they are young they are very likely to stay hooked well into adulthood. Also think about this a lot of the older demographic of wrestling didn’t the WWE product so even though the company they watched like AWA, World Class, UWF, etc may have went under doesn’t mean that you automatically go & watch the WWE as the products were too different.
Now look at modern WWE and answer me this is the product more kid friendly or targeted to the teenager demographic. Not sure? I’ll tell you, the WWE’s largest demographic in terms viewership percentage is in fact teenagers or specifically those who fall within the 18-34 demographic. Does that answer my question? Nope, why well its really simple I didn’t ask what the largest demo was I asked who the product is appealing to and you have to look no further then to the PG TV rating to find out the answer. Either this means that Vince is hungry for competition and is leaving the wider demographic for pro-wrestling companies open for a competitor or he is trying to duplicate what he did in the early 1990’s.
If you don’t remember or you skipped, head back in the early 1990’s the WWE was focused on marketing to the younger kids expelling the older teens to the WCW until the late 1990’s when WWE got them back. Think about it overall if a kid is six in 1990 then by the time 1998 rolls around he is entered his teen years and has been hooked on wrestling specifically WWE since he was six. Do you see the connection and how WWE is technically attempting to build a relationship with the fans to have them as lifetime customers. I’ve always believed in the idea of building for the future if possible which means it doesn’t take away from the day to day operations of the business only I didn’t realize that is what WWE is trying to do.
Now look at modern WWE and answer me this is the product more kid friendly or targeted to the teenager demographic. Not sure? I’ll tell you, the WWE’s largest demographic in terms viewership percentage is in fact teenagers or specifically those who fall within the 18-34 demographic. Does that answer my question? Nope, why well its really simple I didn’t ask what the largest demo was I asked who the product is appealing to and you have to look no further then to the PG TV rating to find out the answer. Either this means that Vince is hungry for competition and is leaving the wider demographic for pro-wrestling companies open for a competitor or he is trying to duplicate what he did in the early 1990’s.
If you don’t remember or you skipped, head back in the early 1990’s the WWE was focused on marketing to the younger kids expelling the older teens to the WCW until the late 1990’s when WWE got them back. Think about it overall if a kid is six in 1990 then by the time 1998 rolls around he is entered his teen years and has been hooked on wrestling specifically WWE since he was six. Do you see the connection and how WWE is technically attempting to build a relationship with the fans to have them as lifetime customers. I’ve always believed in the idea of building for the future if possible which means it doesn’t take away from the day to day operations of the business only I didn’t realize that is what WWE is trying to do.
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