World Wrestling Entertainment® and USA Network today announced a
four-year renewal agreement that will keep ratings juggernaut WWE
MONDAY NIGHT RAW® on the network through fall 2014. WWE
MONDAY NIGHT RAW, a cable mainstay for more than 16 years, continues
to be one of the most watched regularly scheduled programs on
ad-supported cable television, contributing to USA’s status as the
number one cable network.
"I couldn’t be happier about continuing one of the most successful
collaborations in television history,” said Bonnie Hammer, President,
NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions.
"Vince McMahon and his entire team are an invaluable part of the USA
family.”
"USA Network is a true partner and not just a network that distributes
WWE’s premiere television show, WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW,” stated
Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. "I am thrilled to have a long term deal
with USA Network.”
In recent months, WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW has featured celebrity
guest hosts from the worlds of TV, movies, sports and music including:
Shaquille O’Neal, Jeremy Piven, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Barker, Snoop Dogg,
Ben Roethlisberger, Rev. Al Sharpton and many more. The run of guest
hosts has produced a ratings increase of +11 % more total viewers, +16%
more P12-17, +9% more P25-54, + 3% more P18-49 and +17% more households
compared to the same time period last year.
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW is currently averaging: 5.5 million total
viewers, 2.7 million in P25-54, 2.7 million in P18-49, 1.3 million in
P18-34, 620,000 in P12-17 and 3.7 million households year-to-date on USA
Network.
USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over
98.5 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable
television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster
theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events.
The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com.
Characters Welcome.
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.
World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE:
WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in
global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses
that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global
audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG
content across all of its platforms including television
programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming
is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches
more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in
Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London,
Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto and Sydney. Additional information on World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at
corporate.wwe.com.
Trademarks: All WWE programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks,
copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling
Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos
and copyrights 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, feature
films, 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 agreements, including television
distribution agreements; 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.
