Zap2it.com was given the following statement by The Dish Network concerning its dropping WWE PPVs:
"WWE has chosen to launch a 24/7 online network, without its TV partners, that includes all of its pay-per-view events. As WWE enters the increasingly fragmented media world by themselves, DISH will continue to consider the value of WWE pay-per-view on an event by event basis. DISH continues to provide a variety of WWE programming, including 'WWE Raw' on USA, 'WWE Smackdown' on Syfy, 'WWE Main Event' on Ion and 'WWE Total Divas" on E!. At this time, WWE pay-per-view events are not available on DISH."
Zap2it also quoted the veriage that we cited here earlier on the site: "Additionally, DISH support writes on its Facebook page, in response to a question, "DISH will not offer the 'WWE Elimination Chamber' PPV on 2/23. WWE is not willing to adjust their PPV costs to satellite and cable companies, which is unfair to their customers. We need to re-focus our efforts to support partners that better serve DISH customers. Other satellite and cable companies, including DIRECTV, have also expressed they may no longer provide WWE PPV events in the future."
I wonder if Dish felt so badly for their customers when they were making all that money for very little work in broadcasting the PPV events.
WWE has issued the folloing statement to PWInsider.com, in response to Dish's comments:
"WWE is pleased that the majority of our cable and satellite Pay-Per-View distributors are giving our fans an option to purchase traditional Pay-Per-Views as we prepare to launch WWE Network on Monday, February 24. Unfortunately, DISH will not be doing so. We hope DISH will reconsider for this Sunday's 'Elimination Chamber' Pay-Per-View event and especially for 'WrestleMania 30'."
I am with WWE here. Dish is only hurting its customers and bottom line. The Elimination Chamber is not being sold cheaper anywhere else. The move by Dish comes across as petulant to me.