To better reflect the company’s global entertainment offerings, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) announced today a new business model for future growth, including formally rebranding itself, WWE.
Two key components to WWE’s brand expansion will be the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies and the outsourcing of WWE’s core competencies – television and film production, live event production and licensing. As part of the new business model, the company will also focus on the development of new television products including scripted, non-scripted and animated programs, as well as the launch of a new WWE network in the next 12-18 months. The first new program of the brand expansion is Tough Enough®, WWE’s non-scripted program that debuted on the USA Network on Monday.
“The new business model of the company better reflects what WWE is all about, being a global entertainment company,” stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. “We will always be loyal to our core business that made WWE a globally known entity, however, the future of WWE will be the addition of new entertainment content opportunities beyond the ring.”
This new rebranding initiative will be highlighted through a national consumer and business-to-business advertising campaign entitled “Bigger. Badder. Better.™” The campaign kicked off at WrestleMania® XXVII on Sunday and will be featured on cable TV, print and online.
In addition to focusing on the expansion of the company, the company will bolster its core business with the launch a new talent development department headed by Paul “Triple H®” Levesque. The new department will put a greater emphasis on worldwide recruitment, training and character development to identify future WWE Superstars and Divas. The first recruit acquired under Levesque’s new department was the signing last month of future WWE Superstar, Sin Cara™, formerly known worldwide as Mistico.
Originally posted by Spiraling_Shape stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. “We will always be loyal to our core business that made WWE a globally known entity...”
Our now nameless core business heretofore to be referred to only and ambigiously as "entertainment".
(edited by John Orquiola on 7.4.11 1138) @BackoftheHead
No pressure for Sin Cara, eh? He's only the first acquisition of this new talent initiative being helmed by the guy who is the popular pick to take over the company.
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Originally posted by El NastioNo pressure for Sin Cara, eh? He's only the first acquisition of this new talent initiative being helmed by the guy who is the popular pick to take over the company.
I doubt it if it will change anything with the re-branding since going to WWE to WWF wasn't a total disaster. If anything, I think the company is just bored with being a wrestling company and wants to flex their muscles outwards. Every business has to do that from time to time, yet when Vince does it we get the XFL and Weightlifting. So, if Sin Cara works out, do we considering HHH a success or wait a year or two? I just hope HHH hires JR to be a full time scout and gives him power with that position.
(edited by lotjx on 7.4.11 1459) The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Hey! You know what I just noticed too in the verbiage of the corporate press release? WWE is finally correctly referring to themselves as 'WWE' and not "the WWE'. It was never 'The World Wrestling Entertainment'. And - ironic! - now that they're not 'World Wrestling Entertainment' anymore and the letters stand for nothing, calling themselves 'the WWE' now would be appropriate. What a company!
Originally posted by lotjx I think the company is just bored with being a wrestling company and wants to flex their muscles outwards. Every business has to do that from time to time
Yes, but not out of boredom. They're not 'bored' being a wrestling company. WWE is a public multinational corporation. Their purpose is to grow, expand, acquire, and profit onward and onward to please their investors and make themselves rich(er).
(edited by John Orquiola on 7.4.11 1313) @BackoftheHead
To better reflect the company’s global entertainment offerings, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) announced today a new business model for future growth, including formally rebranding itself, WWE.
Two key components to WWE’s brand expansion will be the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies and the outsourcing of WWE’s core competencies – television and film production, live event production and licensing.
The outsourcing of their core competencies?
Maybe my corporate-speak is a bit off, but doesn't that mean that they're going to hire other people/companies to do the things their own company is best at? And wouldn't that be, you know, really stupid? I mean, I'm not saying that that's necessarily their plan, but they sure make it sound that way.
I've always thought that if WWE ends up with its own TV channel, it wouldn't end up being all-wrestling, but being a general entertainment channel designed to appeal to the wrestling demos (and of course carrying a fair amount of wrestling programming). Perhaps this is a step in that direction.
To better reflect the company’s global entertainment offerings, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) announced today a new business model for future growth, including formally rebranding itself, WWE.
Two key components to WWE’s brand expansion will be the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies and the outsourcing of WWE’s core competencies – television and film production, live event production and licensing.
The outsourcing of their core competencies?
Maybe my corporate-speak is a bit off, but doesn't that mean that they're going to hire other people/companies to do the things their own company is best at? And wouldn't that be, you know, really stupid? I mean, I'm not saying that that's necessarily their plan, but they sure make it sound that way.
I've always thought that if WWE ends up with its own TV channel, it wouldn't end up being all-wrestling, but being a general entertainment channel designed to appeal to the wrestling demos (and of course carrying a fair amount of wrestling programming). Perhaps this is a step in that direction.
I think it means they will be the ones selling their production abilities to other companies.
Ya know, since Vince has gone on record that UFC isnt a competitor wouldn't an alliance on WWE network be worth their it? UFC programming would fit right in.
Dana White wouldn't want that association, though.
This is stupid. If they want to branch out, wouldn't it have made more sense to form a new parent company (as Titan Sports once was), and then make WWE a subsidiary of it, than to "rename" itself letters that don't stand for anything?
Dana White wouldn't want that association, though.
This is stupid. If they want to branch out, wouldn't it have made more sense to form a new parent company (as Titan Sports once was), and then make WWE a subsidiary of it, than to "rename" itself letters that don't stand for anything?
You're probably right...but it makes sense. Dana could benefit from WWE's production team for both taped and live events.
Originally posted by Hogan's My Dad This is stupid. If they want to branch out, wouldn't it have made more sense to form a new parent company (as Titan Sports once was), and then make WWE a subsidiary of it, than to "rename" itself letters that don't stand for anything?
Companies do it all the time these days. SBC (now AT&T) is one major one that comes to mind. KFC is another. UBS. It doesn't seem to hurt the companies at all.
Originally posted by kentishThey have treated the word wrestling as a dirty word for years. How long before WrestleMania is rebranded WWEMania?
Never. Wrestlemania as a brand is so such it supersedes their shame of what they are.
I won't be surprised if we still get less wrestling than we'd like, but that name is money. Vince may not be big on history but he likes him some money.
Originally posted by kentishThey have treated the word wrestling as a dirty word for years. How long before WrestleMania is rebranded WWEMania?
Never. Wrestlemania as a brand is so such it supersedes their shame of what they are.
I won't be surprised if we still get less wrestling than we'd like, but that name is money. Vince may not be big on history but he likes him some money.
Then it's a good thing that he's making less of it than he used t..... oh wait...
Originally posted by Hogan's My Dad This is stupid. If they want to branch out, wouldn't it have made more sense to form a new parent company (as Titan Sports once was), and then make WWE a subsidiary of it, than to "rename" itself letters that don't stand for anything?
Companies do it all the time these days. SBC (now AT&T) is one major one that comes to mind.
That was just a reverse merger. SBC was a baby bell that broke off of AT&T because of the anti-trust lawsuit. They eventually bought out their former parent company and then took their name.
Same sorta reverse merger happened with Nations Bank and BankAmerica. Nations bought them out and then took their name (sorta, it became Bank Of America) because it had a better reputation.
I'm curious as to whether the "rebranding" will have an effect on the title belts. The Intercontinental and World Tag Team Title belts have "World Wrestling Entertainment" spelled out on them (and I think the U.S. Title belt might, too), and the World Heavyweight Championship of course has the words "World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion" on it.
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Just you watch- in 5 to 10 years; after some very lean years; they're going to issue another press release that saying they want to "re-focus our energy on our core business" and with that; they'll re-name the company to "World Wrestling Inc." (WWI) or something similar with the word Wrestling in it.
Along with that will come a new logo, the end of the brand extension, a reduction in the number of PPVs, and the end of any non-wrestling productions. It will be a re-building of the entire company along the lines of when The New Generation was shown the door, and the Attitude Era was slowly ushered in.
It really depends on what they buy and how they use it. If the TV station goes up in 2012, they are going to need more then just the seven hours of programming they have now. I am wondering if we will see PPV replays on TV, a week or two after they are done or if they are going to throw on supershows like the MSG ones on? Whatever they are going to do, they had better be smart about it. Since the 70 million dollars they have freed up and whatever they are getting from Mania can go away fast especially if you are building a TV network.
It won't shock me to see them buy a studio or two and throw past wrestlers on piloted tv shows. A version of Shit, My Dad Says with Piper or a weekly documentary about Cena or Bret or Austin. The problem I can see with them buying studios and other entertainment assets is putting their own people in charge who are not that creative or not business savvy to handle it. I just hope they don't give JBL or Trump a Glenn Beck like show. They are not smart enough to navigate that minefield.
(edited by lotjx on 8.4.11 0730) The Wee Baby Sheamus.
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http://www.x-ppac.org/ Or this could be a new gimmick for the Kid. I mention this because one of their representatives will be the guest on Art Bell tonite at 1AM eastern/10PM CRZ.