WWE issued the following press release moments ago:
NEW
YORK AND STAMFORD — NBCUniversal
Cable Entertainment and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced a multi-year strategic
partnership for WWE’s flagship programming and ratings juggernauts Monday Night
Raw for a three-hour block on USA Network and the top-rated Friday Night
SmackDown on Syfy. The two programs are the longest-running weekly episodic
entertainment programs on cable TV with a combined reach of 10.8 million viewers
each week. The announcement was made today by Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE
Executive Vice President Talent, Live Events & Creative, from the stage at
the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment upfront presentation at the Javitz Center
in New York.
“USA
Network President Chris McCumber, Syfy President Dave Howe and I are incredibly
pleased to renew this strategic partnership with WWE,” said NBCUniversal Cable
Chairman Bonnie Hammer. “In today’s TV landscape, live event programming is an
extraordinarily valuable asset, and WWE remains the only entertainment franchise
that consistently delivers this on a 52-week a year basis. We look forward to
bringing WWE’s action-packed and unique brand of drama to the wide audiences
across our cable networks for many years to come.”
“We
are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with NBCUniversal given
their premiere position in the marketplace and vast promotional platforms,” said
WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. “We are excited about
our future as we further the reach and popularity of our live, family-friendly
entertainment programming 52 weeks a year.”
WWE
weekly programming averages more viewers than the NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL and UFC.
Both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown feature a star-studded cast of
WWE Superstars and Divas, and deliver a shot of adrenaline to viewers with
over-the-top action, feats of athleticism and high octane drama.
Monday
Night Raw on USA is the most-watched, regularly scheduled, year-round program on
cable, airing a live three-hour block every Monday night, 52 weeks a year. Raw
has been a cable mainstay for more than 20 years and is consistently a top ten
show on television. The three-hour block on USA averages 2.2 million viewers
18-49, 2.3 million viewers 25-54 and 5 million total viewers age two or over.
The two-hour Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy averages 1.2 million viewers 18-49,
1.3 million viewers 25-54 and 3.2 million total viewers age two and up. The two
programs have reached 37.5 million people in 2014 to date.
In
addition, E! — in
partnership with WWE and Bunim-Murray Productions — will
continue to broadcast the reality series Total Divas, an unprecedented look
inside the professional and personal lives of the WWE’s leading ladies.
