In a multi-part blog, we’re going to discuss the WWE. Arguably the most controversial form of sport, professional wrestling has spawned tribes and anti-tribes. While some follow it devotedly for the entertainment it provides, others shun it for being fake and leading to violence amongst children.
I admire the steps taken by the WWE to involve their fans in more and more ways. The WWE Universe now has forums, blogs and other features available with frequent updates provided by the wrestlers themselves. By opening up a channel of communication between the fans and the wrestlers, the WWE is enabling fans to connect with the people they want to hear from.
Understanding their fans has really helped the WWE provide a product that appeals to the masses. In fact, with young viewers making up a growing portion of their audience, WWE has recently obtained a PG-13 rating.
I think that’s a risky move since the new approach may turn away the more mature viewers who have been following the WWE since they were young. However, this may help those same viewers get their kids watching too. Given that the WWE already dominates T.V. ratings every week, it should be interesting to see whether this move helps them cement their position or if they’ll suffer.
Recently, the WWE has taken a stab at channeling the efforts of the tribes that support them. Fans have always shaped the direction of the product offered weekly to millions of households and now the WWE is taking steps to service its expansive fan base through the WWE Universe.
- WWE offers a variety of mobile services for people wanting to get the most up-to-date news delivered to their cell phones
- The website itself allows fans to vote on their favourite designs for future WWE merchandise
- The icing on the cake for most fans is the interactive Pay-Per-View where fans get the opportunity to vote on the type of matches and even the participants of the match
With the WWE using multiple channels to connect with their fans, I truly believe their focus is on adapting the WWE to their fans.
