According to The Wrestling Observer, at least one major cable network was interesting in a TV deal with WWE prior to the company renewing with NBCUniversal, however when the channel heard what WWE wanted in return, it lost interest.

The feeling is WWE overplayed its hand in negotiations from the get go, and that's what lead to a lack of bids from other networks outside of NBCU.

The general feeling in the TV industry is that WWE is cheap programming which helps station ratings.