WWE Network, Marketing and Advertising Observation

Whenever I try to watch a video on the WWE Network, I am served a 30-second ad. I then immediately click "back", restart the video, and am served with a shorter, 7-second ad instead. At first I thought I was being clever. Then I realized I was being Pavloved.

I didn’t always get served 30-second ads at first; the lengths varied. But because I am clicking back on the 30’s, it also means I am actively engaging in the platform, rather than making the ad background noise. So what they have effectively trained me to do is effectively pay attention, get served a micro-ad that I engage with to end, then sit through ANOTHER ad on top of that.

Well played.

Actually, I rarely get ads on the Network when I’m watching. Except for all the ads that run during the PPVs, of course.