Court Bauer On YouTube: It’s Very Problematic For Wrestling Companies
There are many ways to watch MLW Fusion as the show airs on various platforms. The main premiere happens every Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on YouTube.
But YouTube is not the most viable home for MLW according to CEO Court Bauer.
“We’ve had more constructive conversations (with YouTube) in the last few months. I still think they are having an internal identity crisis,” Bauer told John Pollock of POST Wrestling. “At one point in the last year, we talked to them about how they operate and it’s very problematic for many wrestling companies. At one time, they had an original content division and a sports division and were about to rev up and wanted to get in the space of Hulu and Netflix. Then, overnight, everyone was gone and they shuttered a lot of those divisions and were like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to do the YouTube thing like always.’ They go back and forth on what they’re going to be. They generate a lot of money. Look at the Paul brothers. My kids watch strictly YouTube and a lot of guys just play video games and they have mansions. It generates mega-money for select people. Will YouTube always sustain because of that? Probably. What will be in ten years, I can’t say. The world of streaming will get more competitive and where does YouTube fit? It’s hard to say. There is a lot of competition and it’s endless.”
MLW recently signed a deal with VICE TV, providing a new home for the promotion. MLW airs Saturdays on VICE TV with old shows and highlights currently airing on the network.
Elsewhere during the interview, Bauer discussed MLW reportedly being in talks with WWE. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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