WWE Signs Deal with USA

[Perfection]

NEW YORK & STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)—-World Wrestling Entertainment(R) and NBC Universal have inked a new, three-year agreement that will return WWE cable programming, including ratings titan Monday Night RAW(R), to USA Network beginning in October 2005, it was announced today by Linda McMahon, WWE CEO, and Bonnie Hammer, president, USA Network and SCI FI Channel. RAW, a cable mainstay for more than 12 years, continues to be the most watched regularly scheduled year-round program on ad-supported cable television.

The agreement is a homecoming of sorts for WWE, which introduced Monday Night RAW on USA on January 11, 1993. The prime time cable series flourished for seven years, establishing cable ratings records, before moving to Spike TV on September 25, 2000.

“I’m thrilled to be back in business again with Vince and Linda McMahon,” said Hammer. “I led the USA team that helped grow RAW into a true pop phenomenon, and it’s great to welcome it home.”

In addition to Monday Night Raw, USA will air a one-hour weekend RAW-branded program, and NBCU’s Telemundo will air Spanish-language versions of RAW. NBC will also air at least two yearly, 90-minute Saturday late night RAW specials.

“This broad and diverse distribution will provide WWE excellent platforms from which to reach our existing fans as well as broaden our audience,” said McMahon. “We’re very happy to be returning to USA Network, where we experienced some of our greatest successes, and to NBC, where we had tremendous success with our series of late-night specials, Saturday Night Main Event, in the 1980’s.”

“The WWE’s return to USA Network and our arrangement with the other NBC Universal properties, is indicative of how we as a company can offer unique cross-networking opportunities,” added Jeff Gaspin, president NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Network Strategy. “RAW will put USA and NBC Universal Cable into an incredibly competitive position and I couldn’t be happier about this relationship.”

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Additional information relating to the agreement can be found in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC today by WWE.

USA Network is cable television’s leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is seen in over 88 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreement, including television distribution agreement; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

Media Contacts: WWE Gary Davis, 203-353-5066 or USA Network John Kelley, 212-664-4774 or Investor Contact: WWE Michele Goldstein, 203-352-8642.

[Perfection]

-- RAW will begin airing on USA in October of this year. It'll also air on Telemundo and possibly on Mun2.

-- WWE will receive rights fees for their programming. USA will sell all the advertising and keep a portion of the revenue.

-- WWE expects revenues of around $37 million from advertising sales for the fiscal year that end on 4/30. They will net around $13 million from that.

-- There will be two 90 minute specials on NBC and at least one yearly show with this new deal.

-- NBC Universal will spend at least $8 million for an ad campaign to promote the launch of the programs on USA.

-- WWE will stick with Spike TV until the end of September. They will go to USA in October.

This info came from www.24wrestling.com

[ShadyGuru]

Pretty cool that it will be on Telemundo, i can always go with some WWE in espanol

[-CaliKid-]

I just hope they take advantage of this and put out some great storylines.

[Sikotic™]

Going to Spike TV/TNN was their biggest mistake. USA had faith in the WWE when they were going down the drain and helped them get back to the top. As soon as they jumped ship, the ratings went down.

Spike TV doesn't even have as many viewers lol. The move was stupid.

[Shallow]

Going to Spike TV/TNN was their biggest mistake. USA had faith in the WWE when they were going down the drain and helped them get back to the top. As soon as they jumped ship, the ratings went down.

Spike TV doesn't even have as many viewers lol. The move was stupid.

Actually that's not true. Here are the ratings just before during and after the switch;

August 27, 2001 4.8
September 3, 2001 4.6
September 10, 2001 4.6
September 17, 2001 4.8
September 24, 2001 4.5
October 1, 2001 4.4
October 8, 2001 4.5


They dropped a little later, but that was more due to the fuck up of the invasion angle, because in January of 2002 the ratings were back up.

You also have to take into account the money factor. When they were at USA they got 5 million a year and no ad revenue. On Spike they got 28 million a year plus ad revenue. It was a no brainer from a business stand point. The only reason they came back to USA is because no one else wants them right now. They're hoing to take a pretty big pay cut. As for the availability Spike is seen in 86 million homes, and USA is seen in 88 million. Not that big a difference. (Smackdown was on UPN the whole time and the ratings dropped there too).


The only good thing to come out of this is the deal that gives the WWE two shows on NBC a year. NBC reaches like 109 million homes.

[-Euthanasia-]

saturday nights main event is back!!!
i hope its not at 3 in the morning like it was back in the day

[Shallow]

saturday nights main event is back!!!
i hope its not at 3 in the morning like it was back in the day

I don't think it was ever 3 in the morning. It would usually take the place of SNL reruns, and at times they'd have prime time Saturday shows.

[Kal EL]

So what does this mean for Smackdown? Will it still be on thursdays? Will they tape live?

[Chad]

left spike to get pre-empted by the dog show again...lol

[Shallow]

So what does this mean for Smackdown? Will it still be on thursdays? Will they tape live?

Smackdown is still under contract with UPN until fall 2006. Nothing is set to change until then.

[Perfection]

So what does this mean for Smackdown? Will it still be on thursdays? Will they tape live?

Smackdown is still under contract with UPN until fall 2006. Nothing is set to change until then.

Actually it's most likely that UPN will be dropping Smackdown! sooner than that because UPN wants to be taken seriously as a network and they feel that as long as they have Smackdown! that won't happen. Even though Smackdown is their highest rated show, and last week's show put UPN 4th in the ratings.

As soon as Smackdown leaves UPN it will most likely go to USA with it possilbe changing days & becoming a live show.

[Shallow]

So what does this mean for Smackdown? Will it still be on thursdays? Will they tape live?

Smackdown is still under contract with UPN until fall 2006. Nothing is set to change until then.

Actually it's most likely that UPN will be dropping Smackdown! sooner than that because UPN wants to be taken seriously as a network and they feel that as long as they have Smackdown! that won't happen. Even though Smackdown is their highest rated show, and last week's show put UPN 4th in the ratings.

As soon as Smackdown leaves UPN it will most likely go to USA with it possilbe changing days & becoming a live show.

UPN won't drop Smackdown until it gets a bonafied hit show and style of programming. It would be stupid for them to pay out the rest of a contract and lose money both from the pay out and from ad companies unless they can make up for it. So until a decent show pops up on UPN, which hasn't happened since Buffy moved there, and before that, Voyager debuted, UPN is stuck and better be thankful they at least have SD to keep the ratings up a bit.

[authentic]

i stopped watching wrestling a while ago