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News Media: Snooki, 'The Rock' and 'Mania: When Headlocks
and Hollywood Collide - 1st April 2011
One
is the queen of MTV's Jersey Shore; the other is WWE's
resident Mexican aristocrat. One is famous for being
perhaps the worst of the tanned, bouffant-wearing,
gum-chomping Italian stereotype. The other invites
fans' wrath with a wink and a smile as he drives the
world's most expensive cars to the ring and insists
on being introduced by his own personal ring announcer
- in Spanish.
Only
one entity - and one extravaganza - could bring these
two very different stars together: World Wrestling
Entertainment's 27th annual WrestleMania on Sunday.
Snooki will participate in a six-person, inter-gender
grudge match while Alberto Del Rio will vie for the
World Heavyweight Championship in his WrestleMania
debut. Both promise to thrill 70,000-plus screaming
fans in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
"It's
going to be the peak of my career," said Del
Rio, a native of Mexico. "My family, my entire
country, is going to be proud of me because I'm going
to go out there and become the new World Heavyweight
Champion. I'm going to die out there trying to become
the World Heavyweight Champion."
So
what's behind the infatuation with WrestleMania? Why
do fans come from around the world and dole out hard-earned
money to watch this spectacle on pay-per-view? What
is it about WrestleMania that makes fathers and sons
and daughters jump out of their seats and grown, muscle-bound
men in tights speak in hushed reverence?
Simply
put, it is pro wrestling's greatest annual event.
All wrestlers who grew up as fans dream of performing
in it and look forward to watching it. Even in the
choreographed world of professional wrestling, there
is nothing staged about the emotion and excitement
from anyone who performs at WrestleMania.
"As
a kid, all I wanted to do was be a wrestler,"
said Del Rio. "Now that I'm here in WWE - WrestleMania
is our NBA, our Super Bowl, our World Series of professional
wrestling. As a wrestler, as a performer, I always
dreamed of being in something like that."
For
the fan, WrestleMania's appeal is as nuanced as wrestling's
longtime popularity. Wrestling's magnetism goes hand-in-hand
with the dawn of the television age in the 1950s,
but WrestleMania took it to another level. It is a
marriage of headlocks and Hollywood that began in
1985, when WWE Chairman Vince McMahon teamed up the
charisma of Hulk Hogan and the diabolical lunacy of
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper with the star power
of Mr. T and Cyndi Lauper. (Credit:
News Corporation).
Press
Release
WrestleMania
Makes $45 Million For Host City
November
4, 2010
STAMFORD,
Conn., November 4, 2010 - World Wrestling Entertainment®
announced today that WrestleMania XXVI generated $45.1
million in economic impact for the greater Glendale/Phoenix
area, according to a study conducted by the Enigma
Research Corporation. WrestleMania also generated
close to $5 million in local, state and county taxes.
Over
the past three years, WrestleMania has generated nearly
$150 million in cumulative economic impact for its
host cities and states, this despite the country experiencing
one of the worst economic periods in decades.
WWE®'s
premiere event was an important addition to Glendale's
tourism industry and position as a leading sports
and entertainment destination, said Glendale
Mayor Elaine Scruggs. The $45 million boost
to our region created by WWE's fantastic fans makes
WrestleMania a valuable economic attraction for every
community host. We look forward to WWE returning to
Glendale soon."
A
capacity crowd of 72,219 fans from all 50 states and
26 countries attended WWEs pop culture extravaganza
this past March. Key highlights from the study included:
-
$45.1 million of direct, indirect and induced impact
derived from spending by non-locals visiting specifically
for WrestleMania XXVI.
- The economic impact derived from WrestleMania Week
equated to the creation of 510 full-time jobs for
the area.
- 63% of fans that attended WrestleMania were from
outside the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, with 53% staying
three nights or more.
- 60% of fans that came from out of state were from
California and Nevada.
- 58% of fans that attended WrestleMania were between
the ages of 20 and 40, and 23% were between the ages
of 5 and 19.
We
are very pleased that WrestleMania has once again
produced a significant economic windfall for its host
city. This is an incredible result in the face of
a challenging economy, and one that illustrates the
size and scope of WrestleMania Week, said John
P. Saboor, Senior Vice President of Special Events
for World Wrestling Entertainment. Our public
and private sector partners within the Glendale/Phoenix
area were exceptional hosts for the WWE Universe.
Next
year, WrestleMania XXVII will take place Sunday, April
3 from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Tickets go
on sale Saturday, November 13 at 10 AM EST through
the Georgia Dome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets,
www.ticketmaster.com or by calling
1-800-745-3000. The event will be broadcast on pay-per-view,
and viewed in more than 100 countries.
Enigma Research Corporation is an international consulting
firm which specializes in measuring the economic impact
of special events. Enigmas economists developed
a customized model which converted expenditures into
economic impact, employment created and taxes generated
as a result of the event.
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, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto and Mexico
City. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment,
Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Media Contacts:
Robert Zimmerman
203-359-5131
Robert.Zimmerman@wwecorp.com
Adam
Hopkins
203-352-8675
Adam.Hopkins@wwecorp.com
Investor
Contact:
Michael Weitz
203 352 8642
Michael.Weitz@wwecorp.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 risks relating
to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including
television distribution agreements; the need for continually
developing creative and entertaining programming;
the continued importance of key performers and the
services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the
markets in which we compete; acceptance of the Company's
brands, media and merchandise within those markets;
uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation
matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive
nature of our markets; the importance of protecting
our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual
property rights of others; risks associated with producing
live events both domestically and internationally;
uncertainties associated with international markets;
risks relating to our film business and any new business
initiative which we may undertake; risks relating
to the large number of shares of common stock controlled
by members of the McMahon family; 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, our
dividend is significant and is dependent on a number
of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity
and historical and projected cash flow, strategic
plan (including alternative uses of capital), our
financial results and condition, contractual and legal
restrictions on the payment of dividends, general
economic and competitive conditions and such other
factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant,
including a waiver by the McMahon family of a portion
of the dividends.
2010
News
WrestleMania
website goes live
Vince
McMahon VS Bret
"Hitman" Hart match being speculated
Roddy
Piper and Mickey Rourke Strongly Rumored to Appear
Again at WrestleMania 2010
Mickey
Rourke potential angle at WrestleMania 2010
Vince
McMahon consults with WWE wrestlers for Hollywood
celebrities for WM
Steve
Austin tipped for WrestleMania 2010
The
Undertaker to retire and make this his final WrestleMania?
Shawn
Michaels likely to play major role in WrestleMania
2010
Profile
WWE
Legends of WrestleMania game
The
Hulk The
Hulk II Hulk's Revenge
IRON
MAN
Profile
WrestleMania
is the flagship professional wrestling pay-per-view
event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
(formerly known as World Wrestling Federation). It
is the most successful longest-running professional
wrestling event in the world and is nicknamed "The
Grandaddy of Them All" and "The Grandest
Stage of Them All." It is held annually in late
March or early April. First held in 1985, 23 editions
of WrestleMania have been produced thus far, with
WrestleMania XXIV to be held in 2008.
Produced
by WWE owner Vince McMahon,
WrestleMania has become one of the most prominent
events in sports entertainment. Its widespread success
helped transform the professional wrestling industry
and make the WWE the most successful promotion in
North America. WrestleMania has facilitated the rise
to stardom of wrestlers such as Hulk
Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn
Michaels, The Undertaker,
Steve Austin, The
Rock, and Triple H,
amongst others. Numerous celebrities such as Muhammad
Ali, Mr. T, Alice Cooper, Donald
Trump and others have participated or made special
appearances in the events. The products of the WWE's
television shows are tailored to reach their climax
at WrestleMania, which sees contests for the company's
championship titles, specialty and gimmick matches.
Participation in a WrestleMania match, and especially
the main event, is considered by many wrestlers and
fans alike as one of the greatest achievements and
symbols of professional success.
WrestleMania
propels the worldwide commercial success of the WWE
through merchandise, media and shows. All the events
produced have been sold out within a short period
of time, with recent editions being sold out within
minutes of tickets going on sale. The first WrestleMania
was held in Madison Square Garden
in New York City; subsequently, the 10th and 20th
editions have also been held there. WrestleMania III
in Detroit was the highest-attended indoor sports
event in the world, with more than 93,000 in attendance.
All but two editions have been hosted in U.S. cities
- two being held in Toronto, Canada - but the show
is televised across the world. (Credit:
Wikipedia).
Press Release
Celebrities
Pack a Punch at WrestleMania® XXIV
March 4, 2008
John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Raven-Symoné Join
WWE® Superstars March 30
Stamford,
Conn., March 4, 2008 – In addition to recently
announced Floyd Mayweather who will wrestle 7 foot
399 lb Big Show® in a David vs. Goliath match
up, WWE is packing a Hollywood punch confirming four
more celebrities for WrestleMania XXIV. Five-time
Grammy-winner and multi-platinum singer, songwriter
and performer John Legend will perform “America
the Beautiful” live at this year’s bash
in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, March 30. Snoop Dogg
will also be on hand as Celebrity Ring Announcer for
a “BunnyMania” match with Playboy cover
girls Candice Michelle™ and Maria™ squaring
off against the Glamazon™ Beth Phoenix™
and Melina. Also confirmed is popular actress/musician
Raven-Symoné, who will be a part of the WWE’s
biggest wish-granting event ever, hosting the Bacon,
Bagels and Biceps brunch and accompanying over 50
Make-A-Wish children at WrestleMania XXIV. Rounding
out the extravaganza, Red Hot Chili Peppers will lend
their hit single “Snow (Hey Oh)” as the
theme song this year.
John
Legend’s albums -- "Get Lifted" and
"Once Again" -- have secured his place as
one of the most striking, vital and important American
musical artists to emerge in the 21st century. Legend
originally gained notoriety as an in-demand all-star
studio session writer and musician whose credits included
work with Lauryn Hill, Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys,
Common and Kanye West, among others
Calvin
“Snoop Dogg” Broadus is a rare exception
in the turbulent world of Hip-Hop, managing to stay
tremendously relevant throughout his 16-plus years
in the game. From music to movies, video games to
clothing lines and now his own hit TV show (E!’s
reality series Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood), Snoop
Dogg is an all-out pop culture icon and household
name.
Raven-Symoné
is well known as the star of “That’s So
Raven,” “The Cheetah Girls” series
and “The Cosby Show” as well as the Dr.
Dolittle film series. Raven is starring in and executive
producing the upcoming film “College Road Trip,”
which will be released on March 7 by Walt Disney Pictures
and co-stars Martin Lawrence. Her fourth album - titled
Raven-Symoné - will be released on April 29,
2008.
Additional
information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
(NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com
and corporate.wwe.com.
For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide
Media
Contacts: Jennifer McIntosh, 203-359-5131
Kevin Hennessy, 203-352-8657
George Cabico, 203-359-5177
Trademarks:
All World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling
moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark owned
by WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos
and copyrights are the property of their respective
owners.
Press
Release
Floyd
Mayweather Jr. Accepts One-on-One Match with Big Show®
February 19, 2008
WrestleMania
Press
Release
MEDIA
RELEASE: March 12 2007
WRESTLEMANIA
23
LIVE
ON MAIN EVENT
MONDAY
APRIL 2
WORLD
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BATISTA VS UNDERTAKER
WWE
CHAMPION JOHN CENA VS SHAWN MICHAELS
AND
THE BATTLE OF THE BILLIONAIRES AS
VINCE
McMAHON & DONALD TRUMP PUT THEIR LOCKS ON THE
LINE
The
MAIN EVENT channel's LIVE and exclusive pay-per-view
coverage of WrestleMania 23 on April 2 will see some
of the biggest and most-anticipated matches in WWE
history, including the 'The Battle of Billionaires'
which will culminate in either WWE Chairman Vince
McMahon or tycoon Donald Trump having his head shaved.
MAIN
EVENT will broadcast WrestleMania 23 LIVE from Ford
Field in Detroit on Monday April 2, from 9.00am EST,
with a full replay to be broadcast from 6.30pm EST.
The
headliner for the action-packed, four-hour, WrestleMania
23 schedule is the clash between World Heavyweight
Champion Batista and Undertaker. And the program will
also see WWE Champion John Cena (star of the upcoming
feature film "The Marine") vs Shawn Michaels.
However,
'The Battle of The Billionaires' may steal the show.
Each billionaire has selected a wrestler to fight
on his behalf - ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley will
fight for Trump and Intercontinental Champion Umaga
will be in the ring for McMahon - but it is the moguls'
own locks that are on the line.
WrestleMania
23 will also include a 'Money in the Bank Ladder Match'
in which eight WWE and ECW Superstars will do battle.
The one who climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase
hanging from the ceiling of Ford Field will earn a
guaranteed opportunity at the World Championship of
his choice anytime over the next year.
Don't
miss a minute of the action when the stars of world
wrestling clash in the biggest event on the calendar
WrestleMania 23, only as a special pay-per-view event
on MAIN EVENT on Monday, April 2 from 9.00am with
a full replay from 6.30pm.
WrestleMania
23 is available to order on MAIN EVENT for $29.95
to all FOXTEL, AUSTAR and OPTUS subscribers.
Elizabeth
Hunter
FOXTEL Publicity Manager
(02) 9813 7394
Elizabeth.hunter@foxtel.com.au
WrestleMania(R)
23 Has Already Set Record for Highest Grossing Live
Event in WWE(R) History With Tickets Still Available
STAMFORD,
Conn., Nov 11, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- By noon today,
WWE fans had made WrestleMania 23 at Ford Field in
Detroit, Mich., the highest grossing live event in
World Wrestling Entertainment(R) history.
With
tickets still available, WWE has already grossed more
than $4.35 million in ticket sales for WrestleMania
23, shattering the company's previous record of $3.9
million for WrestleMania X-8 at the Toronto SkyDome
on March 17, 2002. Higher ticket prices for premium
seating helped WrestleMania 23 achieve the record
ticket sale gross.
Almost
50,000 tickets are now in the hands of fans for WWE's
annual pop culture extravaganza, putting the company
on pace to achieve its objective of entertaining more
than 78,000 fans at WrestleMania 23 on Sunday, April
1, 2007, which would make it the largest number of
fans ever assembled in the history of Ford Field.
Additional
WrestleMania tickets beyond the 50,000 already distributed
will be released in the future once production needs
for the event are finalized. The company encourages
fans still seeking tickets to keep checking with Ticketmaster
and WWE.com on a regular basis for ticket availability.
Tens
of thousands of enthusiastic fans today lined up at
the Ford Field Box Office: (http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/3668278)
and Ticketmaster, or logged-in to Ticketmaster.com,
to purchase tickets at the official public on-sale
for the event. WWE fans from 20 countries, including
43 states and six Canadian provinces, are now set
to converge on the greater Detroit area to attend
WrestleMania 23. They are expected to inject millions
of dollars into the local economy. WrestleMania 23
also will be seen on pay-per-view in more than 90
countries around the world.
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.
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 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.
SOURCE:
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World
Wrestling Entertainment
Media Contact:
Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
Investor Contact:
Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
Press
Release
WWE(R)'s
WrestleMania(R) 22 Results Live Up To "Big Time"
Theme
STAMFORD,
Conn., May 17, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- World Wrestling
Entertainment(R)'s WrestleMania 22 proved to be a
global blockbuster success. WWE said preliminary estimates
to date of world-wide pay-per-view buys for WrestleMania
22 are more than 925,000, putting the event on track
to exceed one million pay-per-view buys for the third
straight year. The event broke Allstate Arena box
office and merchandise sales records. The release
of the WrestleMania 22 DVD on May 23, 2006, will add
to that success, as it is likely to become the WWE's
best-selling DVD ever.
"WrestleMania
22 was a big time performance and our fans support
was again exceptional," said Kurt Schneider,
Executive Vice President, Marketing. "From pay-per-view
buys to live event ticket sales to merchandise purchases
to global media coverage, everything for WrestleMania
22 screamed 'Big Time' and further cemented the WrestleMania
franchise and the WWE brand as perennial favorites
in pop culture."
WrestleMania
22 was seen by millions in more than 90 countries
worldwide, and was broadcast live to U.S. troops around
the world by the Armed Forces Television Network.
More than 17,155 people from 16 countries and 43 states
attended Rosemont's Allstate Arena in Chicago, Ill.
to see WrestleMania 22 in person. The $2.5 million
in ticket sales made it the highest grossing one-day
event in the history of the Allstate Arena. Merchandise
sales the day of WrestleMania 22 also established
a new record for an event at the Allstate Arena. WWE's
per capita sales of $26.70 at WrestleMania 22 more
than doubled the previous Allstate Arena record held
by rock band Metallica.
Hundreds
of national, local and regional media outlets from
around the world - such as Sports Illustrated, ABC
News, MTV, CNN, Telemundo, Univision, Tokyo Sports,
and Nippon Sports -- reported on WrestleMania 22,
with media from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Germany and Japan in attendance at the event.
WrestleMania
23 is scheduled for Sunday, April 1, 2007, at Ford
Field in Detroit, Mich. The return to Detroit will
mark the 20th anniversary of WrestleMania III at the
Pontiac Silverdome, an event that attracted 93,173
fans--believed to be the world indoor attendance record
for any sports or entertainment event.
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.
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 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.
SOURCE:
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Media:
Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
or
Investor:
Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
Article
Wrestling's
'Trump' card
There is a lot of buzz about the Donald Trump-Vince
McMahon WrestleMania 'hair' match. But is WWE's stock
a bald and beautiful buy? By Paul R. La Monica, CNNMoney.com
editor at large
(Credit: CNN Money)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Donald Trump may lose his
hair after WrestleMania 23 on April 1. But World Wrestling
Entertainment investors might have to worry about
losing a lot more if the company's big pay-per-view
event isn't a success: their shirts.
WWE
is having its version of the Super Bowl on Sunday
at Detroit's Ford Field, where a sold-out crowd of
about 75,000 people are expected to watch the marquee
matchup pitting Bobby Lashley versus Umaga, fighting
on behalf of Donald Trump and WWE co-founder and chairman
Vince McMahon.
At
stake in the so-called "Battle of the Billionaires"?
The moguls' coiffure. If Umaga wins, Trump will have
his hair shaved after the match and if Lashley wins,
Vince will shed his locks.
(At
least that's what the company is claiming. We wonder
if this won't turn out to be an elaborate April Fool's
joke. It's hard to fathom The Donald parting with
his trademark bouffant.)
The
publicity has helped lift shares of WWE (Charts) more
than 5 percent in the past week - analysts say that
WWE's stock typically has run up in anticipation of
WrestleMania.
"You
have to give credit to McMahon for being a great promoter.
This Trump-McMahon thing is generating all sorts of
interest," said Dennis McAlpine, an independent
media analyst.
But
the stock has been a disappointment over the past
year. Shares are down 2.5 percent in the past 12 months
and even with this week's rally, the stock is trading
only 8 percent above its 52-week low.
Could
a successful WrestleMania get the stock back on track?
After all, revenue from live events and pay-per-view
are two key sales drivers for the company. Last year,
live events accounted for a quarter of WWE's total
sales and pay-per-view fees contributed 23 percent.
And
Michael Sileck, WWE's chief operating officer, told
investors during a Citigroup (Charts) conference in
Las Vegas earlier this month, that both businesses
are booming. According to Sileck, attendance at WWE
events in North America is up 21 percent over the
past 12 months. He added that the company generated
about 6 million pay-per-view buys last year, with
1 million for WrestleMania alone. (WWE has not released
advance pay-per-view requests for the April 1 event.)
So
despite some occasional gripes from critics about
wrestling being a fad, it appears that the WWE is
still pretty popular.
According
to a recent ranking of popular Web searches from Yahoo!
(Charts), WWE had the fourth most online buzz, trailing
only top TV hits "American Idol" and "Dancing
with the Stars" and singer/actress Beyonce, and
ahead of pop culture phenomena/celebrity gossip fodder
Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.
Ultimate
Fighting Machines
In addition, the WWE's two telecasts of its Monday
night show "RAW" on GE (Charts)-owned USA
have consistently ranked in the top five of all basic
cable shows for the past few months, typically averaging
about 6 million viewers a week, according to figures
from Nielsen Media Research.
WWE
also airs shows on SCI FI, which like USA, is owned
by GE's NBC Universal unit, and the CW, a joint venture
of CBS (Charts) and Time Warner (Charts). (Time Warner
is the parent company of CNNMoney.com.) Revenue from
the TV telecasts accounted for 22 percent of WWE's
sales last year.
The
staying power of the WWE brand also helps the company
sell consumer products, which is another key revenue
generator for the WWE, representing 23 percent of
total sales last year. Two key products are video
games and toys; software developer THQ (Charts) sells
WWE-licensed games while toy maker Jakks Pacific (Charts)
sells WWE action figures.
But
the area where people see the most lucrative opportunities,
not surprisingly, is digital media. So far, WWE has
barely tapped into the online ad market; digital media
revenue accounted for only 7 percent of the company's
sales last year.
One
investor in the company said that increased pay-per-view
revenue and attendance at live events are nice but
what really will drive WWE's earnings and stock is
an increase in online ad sales.
"The
real value creation and growth will come from monetizing
the presence on the Internet, where the company has
a fanatic and loyal fan base," said Bobby Melnick,
general partner with Terrier Partners, a New York
money management firm that owns the stock. "The
notion that the WWE is a product that the advertising
community can't sell to is a Madison Avenue/Greenwich
elitist attitude. They are rabid loyal customers."
Sileck
conceded during the Citigroup conference that the
company still has a ways to go before it can be considered
to have a successful online presence. He pointed to
the fact that WWE has about 16 million unique visitors
monthly and that the company's site delivers about
46 million video streams a month. But it has been
a challenge to turn this into ad revenue.
"Traffic
is terrific," Sileck said. "The trick is
how do we get paid for it?"
Michael
Kelman, an analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group,
said that WWE should be able to boost its online ad
revenue significantly this year though since the company
has been beefing up its online ad sales force.
Kelman
said the company previously only had two people selling
ads for the site and that they were executives with
TV ad-selling experience. Now, the company has about
a dozen salespeople dedicated to selling online ads.
Melnick
added that the WWE could also cash in by developing
an interactive virtual world on its site. In other
words, think of something like Second Life with wrestlers.
Still,
McAlpine thinks that the WWE needs to develop a new
group of stars that can attract more viewers, such
as Hulk Hogan in the 1980s and The Rock earlier this
decade, and not just the hard-core base of WWE fans.
He said the Trump-McMahon "feud" is a good
start but it might not have a long-lasting impact.
"For
this stock to make real money for investors, the WWE
has to create more big heroes. Its last collection
of stars all brought in the incremental fan. That's
what they need," McAlpine said.
Kelman
agreed that the WWE would benefit from having more
big brand-name stars but he pointed out that the stock
probably doesn't have much downside at current levels.
Shares
trade at 19 times earnings estimates for next year.
While that's not dirt cheap, it seems reasonable,
given that analysts expect earnings growth of 13 percent.
What's more, WWE has rewarded shareholders with a
lavish dividend.
The
company has boosted its dividend three times in the
past five years, and with an annual payout of 96 cents
a share, the dividend yield is 6 percent. To put that
in perspective, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury
bond is about 4.6 percent.
"For
long-term investors, WWE is very interesting because
at very least you are getting a 6 percent yield. In
this market, that's not something to turn your nose
up at," Kelman said.
That
kind of yield should also keep investors from getting
stressed out and losing their hair. We'll see if the
same can be said for Vince and the Donald.
Analysts
quoted in this story do not own shares of WWE and
their firms have no investment banking ties to the
company.
The
reporter of this story owns shares of Time Warner
through his company's 401(k) plan.
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