It has been reported that AEW WrestleDream will be airing for free in the UK on ITV 4 on October 5th.
ITV 4 will be airing AEW WrestleDream as a free special in the UK on October 5th at 10:30 p.m. This decision by the network has sparked speculation and concerns about the potential impact on pay-per-view sales for the event.
Dave Meltzer wrote about this development in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer expressed his thoughts on the matter, suggesting that the decision to air the PPV for free so soon after its initial airing on October 1st could potentially harm the PPV buys for the show.
Traditionally, wrestling promotions rely heavily on PPV revenue to bolster their financial success. By offering the event for free on television just a few days after its initial broadcast, there is a legitimate concern that UK fans may opt to wait and watch it on ITV 4 rather than pay for the PPV.
Meltzer’s speculation extends further, noting that the late PPV buys are likely to be significantly impacted due to the availability of the free special. Fans who may have been on the fence about purchasing the PPV could now opt to watch it on ITV 4, resulting in a potential loss of revenue for AEW.
ITV 4 will be airing WrestleDream as a free special on 10/5 at 10:30 p.m. This could hurt the PPV buys in the U.K. and will certainly hurt the late buys.
It remains to be seen how this decision will ultimately impact AEW’s PPV sales and the overall success of WrestleDream. However, it is clear that AEW is willing to take risks and explore new avenues to grow its brand and reach a wider audience.
When Is AEW WrestleDream Happening?
AEW WrestleDream is taking place on October 1st in Seattle, Washington and the event is a tribute show in honour of NJPW founder Antonio Inoki. It had been reported by Dave Meltzer in a previous Observer Newsletter that WrestleDream had sold just a little over 5,000 tickets, which would make it the lowest-attended pay-per-view since the COVID-19 pandemic.