ESPN is still figuring out the best way to approach its coverage of WWE.
Earlier this year, ESPN became WWE’s new premium live event partner, with the network’s direct-to-consumer streaming service becoming the exclusive U.S. home for WWE PLEs.
During a recent interview with Denise Salcedo (see video below), ESPN host Joe Fortenbaugh discussed how the network is approaching its WWE coverage. According to Fortenbaugh, ESPN remains in an “exploratory phase” as it determines what wrestling fans, and potentially new viewers, want to see.
“Excellent question, because we are still in the exploratory phase with that. What does the viewer want the most? If we sit down and we have an interview with Seth, which we did recently, it aired this morning about tonight’s match, do people want to hear about the match, the history with Roman, his preparation for the match?” Fortenbaugh said.
“Or do you want to bring in a new audience that might not necessarily watch wrestling, that might not necessarily want to hear about the storyline, but could be interested in the fact that Seth’s a huge Bears fan? They’re a Bears fan or they’re a football fan, now there’s a connection.”
Fortenbaugh explained that ESPN is attempting to find a balance between covering WWE storylines and giving viewers a chance to learn more about the performers outside of the ring.
“Now they might be more interested in following Seth because they know something about him. So we’re working to marry those two, how best to serve the viewer. And it’s been fun because some of the conversations, like with Punk last night, we just nerded out over the match.”
Fortenbaugh added that there is also value in giving fans a look behind the curtain while still discussing what happens on WWE programming.
“I mean, the moonsault, vaulting CM Punk, moonsaulting CM Punk going through the table, having those conversations are always a blast. But getting to know them a little bit, I think there are fans that really want to see the peek behind the curtain, and we’re trying to figure out the best way to marry the two for the viewers,” he said.
