In recent weeks there have been hints that more AEW programming could be on the way, something Eric Bischoff feels is a “dumb move.”
Speaking after AEW Revolution, AEW President Tony Khan revealed that he would be open to adding to AEW’s existing television schedule. This was followed by a report on March 11th that revealed Warner Bros Discovery and AEW were in negotiations over another hour of programming.
It was then reported by Dave Meltzer that the new Saturday show is expected to debut by July, and potentially even earlier. Interestingly AEW teased a “televised event” on July 8th, linked to one of their upcoming live events.
Speaking on his Strictly Business podcast, former WCW boss Eric Bischoff gave his thoughts on the potential new show. The WWE Hall of Famer said that while another hour of television might represent a good economic opportunity, he’s not excited to see it.
“Good for them, I think it’s stupid. I think it’s a dumb move. Their product is soft on television as it is, their core product is inconsistent and that’s being really really kind, in terms of creative. Having another hour of television, and maybe it’s just an economic opportunity that’s too hard to say no to and I understand that, but I am so unexcited about another hour of AEW until I see a couple of hours of it that I find compelling and I haven’t seen that in a long time.”
Bischoff went on to question why Tony Khan doesn’t try and move away from a traditional television model to something more cutting-edge.
“Why not build up the power of your streaming platform since linear television and cable television is a slowly dying thing anyway? Why put resources into a dying entity, dilute the product that you already have and isn’t doing really well on television anyway, despite how much you contort yourself into believing that it is? Put your resources into the next evolution of the product. Not to another hour or two or add more Ring of Honor or more cross-promotion or more Forbidden Door. Everything you do continues to dilute your core product.”
Eric Bischoff Praises Launch Of Live Events
Although the idea of more television might not have got Bischoff’s heart racing, he was recently in favour of a different AEW decision. Earlier in March AEW ran its first-ever house show live event, with the promise of many more to come. Bischoff said that this expansion will only serve AEW well in the long run.
H/t to Wrestling Inc