New SVOD Service to expand business with cable and satellite partners
75,000-hour library spanning 4 decades of ratings-proven programming to supply content for new digital platforms, including potential digital channel
New York, N.Y., March 24, 2004 – World Wrestling Entertainment has unveiled a major initiative intended to utilize its 75,000-hour programming library to build new mutually-beneficial businesses with its cable, satellite and other worldwide television partners.
ADVERTISEMENT The first step is the launch of WWE 24/7, a subscription video-on-demand service that will feature highly-rated Pay-Per-View, cable and syndicated broadcast content, best-selling home videos, new original productions and proprietary broadband, from the WWE and other acquired national and regional wrestling brands. A recently launched in-house business development unit, WWE Enterprises, will work directly with MSOs, affiliates and satellite providers to create, customize and cross-promote these new revenue-generating services.
The announcement was made here today at a press luncheon hosted by World Wrestling Entertainment, Chairman Vincent K. McMahon and CEO Linda E. McMahon.
“WWE is ready to move even more aggressively into the digital age by providing new services that will fit with the active lifestyles of our fans and meet their demand for new and innovative content,” said Vince McMahon. “Our fans want more WWE and classic sports entertainment programming, and we have demonstrated our track record of providing content of the highest quality and value. I’m confident we can move into this new distribution platform for television as successfully as we have for syndication, cable, broadcast and Pay-Per-View.”
WWE 24/7, Wrestling Any Time, All the Time
Over the past three years, WWE has aggregated the best of professional wrestling television by strategically acquiring the libraries of other national and regional promoters, including WCW, ECW and AWA. The result is an archive of more than 75,000 hours of programming content, 25,000 of which was previously aired or released as finished product. This is not only one of the more extensive video libraries in television, but the world’s largest dedicated to wrestling and sports entertainment.
The first opportunity for fans to enjoy this content comes with the launch of the subscription video-on-demand service, WWE 24/7.
WWE 24/7 will make available approximately 20 hours of content per month -- 4 to 5 new hours per week on average. The content includes the best of past cable, broadcast, Pay-Per-View and home videos from WWE and other leading promoters.
Customized broadband content will be created for MSOs’ websites and other distributors promoting the new offering. WWE also anticipates providing content on a free-on-demand (FOD) promotional basis to spur trial and help its partners promote these new services. In addition, library content prepared for “evergreen” use will be made available selectively for existing television partners worldwide.
ADVERTISEMENT “Our mission is to put our proven, highly-desirable content into new distribution channels that entertain our fans worldwide and generate revenue for our distribution partners and WWE,” said Linda McMahon, “Every business loves the prospect of steady monthly income. WWE 24/7 is the beginning of a reenergized effort to serve our partners by building incremental businesses that increase their revenues and acclimate their customers to exciting new digital and high-speed services.”
WWE Enterprises, In-House Unit Dedicated To Building and Servicing Partners
WWE recently created an in-house unit to work directly with cable and satellite providers to both market WWE 24/7 and strengthen its affiliate relationships. WWE Enterprises will be headed by Senior Vice President Tom Barreca, who is using the WWE’s vast digital library and intellectual properties to create and service these new partnerships.
Barreca was most recently Senior Vice President of AMC Digital Ventures, where he directed all non-network television business and ventures for AMC and WE cable networks, including video-on-demand, interactive TV and digital set-top box programming and licensing. Barreca launched HA!, Comedy Central and MTV Europe, and also worked at the noted animation studio Hanna-Barbera, where he successfully used the extensive libraries to create new revenue streams and partnerships under the Cartoon Network brand.
“A long-standing goal of the WWE has been to find a deeper way to do business with cable, satellite and all of our television partners worldwide,” added Barreca. “We’ve dedicated a significant amount of energy and thought into building a library of digital wrestling content that is primed for utilization with all new digital technologies and distribution platforms.
We are now creating a dedicated Affiliate Marketing and Sales team to support the launch and growth of WWE 24/7, as well as pursue promising, direct business relationships. We are serious about becoming a leading player in these new digital services, just as we led the way in developing the Pay-Per-View industry.”
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. More info on WWE 24-7 can be found at www.wwe24-7.com.
This is the best news I've heard in a while. Looks like they're finally doing something with that massive tape library, and I'm sure there are enough people out there that will keep something like this alive.
Of course, this probably means it will be 2 years before the service hits Canada, but still... great news!
Originally posted by thebadguyWhat about the UK? We'll never get this amazing looking channel.
What channel? All they're doing is releasing 20 hours of footage a month to various PPV providers. The only thing mentioned about a new channel was that there was the potential for one, no mention of any plans to create one.
Originally posted by thebadguyWhat about the UK? We'll never get this amazing looking channel.
What channel? All they're doing is releasing 20 hours of footage a month to various PPV providers. The only thing mentioned about a new channel was that there was the potential for one, no mention of any plans to create one.
Sorry Arson, I must have misread. The stress must finally be getting to me.
(edited by thebadguy on 24.3.04 2127) This post has been paid for by the friends and supporters of The Bad Guy
I'm still waiting for them to get some of that onto DVD. Whole PPVs instead of little video clips here and there (there *was* a little more in the Monday Night Wars DVD, though).
I'd kind of like to see them release a DVD set of Starrcade, similar to the WrestleMania video set a few years back. It would give a nice nod to the event that preceded WrestleMania. I doubt we ever will ever see this, since it would go against the WWE's interests (there can be nothing bigger than WrestleMania), but it's still nice to dream ;).
This is gonna be a hit or miss, much like the XFL. It really seems like it will only appeal to hardcore wrasslin' fans. And there aren't enough casual fans right now to fill the void. Only question is, how much is it going to cost to put into effect.
I think it would help to let fans access some material before they pay hard earned dollars. I mean, is the average fan gonna order some old AWA no matter how good it is? They should have a channel that previews what you can order, or shows some shows free.
But that probably will never happen, and I am just dreaming
Looks good so far, WWE stock was up a quarter today, nearly 2 percent.
"Huard, gonna go back to throw the ball. Sets up, looks, throws towards the corner of the endzone...it is INTERCEPTED INTERCEPTED, THE DUCKS HAVE THE BALL! Down to the 35, the 40. Kenny Wheaton's gonna score! Kenny Wheaton is gonna score! 20, the 10, Touchdown! Kenny Wheaton on the interception, the most incredible finish to the football game!"
One wonders if my own cable company will carry it, with Time Warner's ban on wrestling.
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearAll I can say is that the first company, be it satellite or cable, to support this channel will have my business.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearAll I can say is that the first company, be it satellite or cable, to support this channel will have my business.
As for only having the hardcore fans, that seems to bode fine for Game Show Network, VH1 Classic and Boomerang.
If Game Show Network was PPV, I doubt it would bode so well.
Everything that is wrong in this world can be blamed on Freddie Prinze Jr.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearAll I can say is that the first company, be it satellite or cable, to support this channel will have my business.
What channel?
Stop repeating yourself. Lots of cable companies give VOD services their own channels on their digital packages.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearAll I can say is that the first company, be it satellite or cable, to support this channel will have my business.
What channel?
Stop repeating yourself. Lots of cable companies give VOD services their own channels on their digital packages.
(edited by CRZ on 24.3.04 2157)
Right. Time Warner Houston(Time Warner has a ban on wrestling)has 10-20 VOD channel specific channels. It would be no trouble for them to add another here. But, what about the rest of the country? Does VOD really have the market penetration to carry this? And how much will it cost? Anything less than $20 a month and I'm in but we've seen what a high opinion they have of their product.
I would think eventually they would want to have their own channel like the Gameshow network. They could make more money off the advertising than having to split the bill with VOD. My dream would be for the menu to be set up by year, promotion, PPV, and individual wrestler and rare house shows. Imagine clicking on SD Jones or Ricky Steamboat and have their entire videography pop up, with hundreds of their matches.
Originally posted by Mild Mannered MadmanOne wonders if my own cable company will carry it, with Time Warner's ban on wrestling.
Hey I dont know what kind of Time Warner you have but I have Time warner, and I just ordered the Monday night war on PPV and almost every PPV in 2 years. How do they have a ban on wrestling? They even have TNA PPVs too!
Well, during my latest occasional check to see if the 13th and final episode of "Season 1" of Wrestlicious was posted to the BiteTV page, I was SHOCKED and saddened to discover that Bite must have CANCELLED the show...
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