Speaking during the Monday’s Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, TKO’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro said that this past Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber PLE on ESPN Unlimited had a significant increase in viewership since the very first event, Wrestlepalooza which aired last September on the streaming service.
“We saw a significant increase in audience from the first event, which was Wrestlepalooza. They’re already making strides. Are they where Netflix was and where Peacock was? Not yet, but I’m super encouraged by the numbers Nick Khan was sending me by the hour this past weekend.”
Shapiro also said that if you are a sports fan, ESPN Unlimited is a “phenomenal package.”
Last Thursday, Xfinity (Comcast) customers who have the ESPN linear channel as part of their TV packages were allowed begin authenticating ESPN Unlimited for free, giving them access to all WWE premium live events.
Shapiro did say the price point of $29.99 for ESPN Unlimited is “somewhat prohibitive” without being able to authenticate for those TV services that don’t have the ability as the present time, such as YouTube TV. Google has said they will be ready by this fall.
“That is, I believe, is somewhat prohibitive, especially in today’s economy and the struggles that certainly middle income and low income earners are having with affordability. They have to get those deals done. Until they do, that will affect our audience.”