WWE issued this press release today:
WWE® OFFERS UNPRECEDENTED DIGITAL ACCESS TO WRESTLEMANIA® 30
STAMFORD, Conn., April 2, 2014 – WWE today announced its digital and social media initiatives for WrestleMania Week, providing fans with unprecedented access to WWE Superstars and more WWE content than ever before. WrestleMania 30 will air this Sunday, April 6 live on WWE Network and pay-per-view at 7 pm ET from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
WrestleMania 30 digital initiatives include:
WRESTLEMANIA 30 PRE-SHOW EXPANDS TO TWO HOURS
For the first time, WWE has expanded its WrestleMania pre-show to two hours of programming. The first hour will simulcast across all WWE platforms, including WWE Network, WWE.com, WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pheed beginning Sunday, April 6 at 5 pm ET. During the second hour, WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos™ will defend their titles in a Fatal 4-Way match against Los Matadores™, Ryback® and Curtis Axel™ and The Real Americans™, which can be seen exclusively on WWE Network.
ALL-NEW WRESTLEMANIA.COM
WrestleMania.com features a sleek new design to enable fans access to key WWE Superstar match-ups and storylines. Fans will be able to watch exclusive 60-second videos of every WrestleMania. The site also features an interactive timeline tracking the history of WrestleMania and a social wall so that fans have the opportunity to share their conversations online.
WWE APP AND NEW BETA WRESTLEMANIA APP
The WWE App, which has been downloaded more than 11 million times globally, will include a special WrestleMania section with content from previous WrestleMania matches.
Additionally, WWE will introduce and gather feedback on a free WrestleMania Beta App. The app is geo-targeted for fans in the New Orleans area and will include venue mapping tools and push notifications for exclusive experiences in and around WrestleMania 30. This experimental app will give fans an opportunity to provide valuable feedback about what WWE can do to make the live event experience even better.
WRESTLEMANIA 30 SET REVEAL
On Friday, April 4, millions of WWE’s social media followers will be among the first to see the inside of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome prior to Sunday’s big event. The WrestleMania 30 set in New Orleans will debut on WWE’s official Twitter accounts, @WWE and @WrestleMania on Friday evening.
WWE TAKES OVER ‘GO NOLA’ APP
For the first time, WWE has forged a digital partnership with the host city for WrestleMania through ‘GO NOLA’. The New Orleans local city app, available on both iOS and Android, will showcase WrestleMania content, a fan guide to New Orleans and directions for all WrestleMania Week events.
WRESTLEMANIA TODAY ON TWITCH
On Friday, April 4 at 7 pm ET, WWE Network will partner with the world’s leading live video streaming site, Twitch.tv, to co-stream WrestleMania Today. The show will be broadcast live from the floor of WrestleMania Axxess with hosts Booker T®, Josh Mathews™ and Alex Riley™, and feature exclusive Superstar interviews and event coverage. Twitch is the world’s leading online community for gamers, with more than 45 million visitors per month.
TWITTER MIRROR
The newest Twitter device, the Twitter Mirror, will be utilized at three of WWE’s premiere events, WrestleMania 30, the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the Superstars for Kids red carpet party. The Twitter Mirror is a tablet programmed for VIP events; celebrities can stand before it, tap the screen, pose, approve the photo and send it out through the event’s Twitter feed. It has been used at some of the entertainment industry’s biggest events, including the Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars.
PODCAST SERIES
WWE.com has introduced a new 10-episode podcast series through PodcastOne. The series, hosted by WWE’s Renee Young, explores the history of WrestleMania and features interviews with some of WWE’s legendary Superstars, including Hulk Hogan™, Bret Hart™, Jake “The Snake” Roberts™, Shawn Michaels® and Edge®. The series currently has more than 500,000 downloads and will continue to air leading up to WrestleMania 30.
WWE SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORS
WWE will enlist several Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes to serve as official WrestleMania Week social media ambassadors, tweeting from the floors of WrestleMania Axxess, WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Superstars for Kids red carpet party, Be a STAR™ anti-bullying rallies, WrestleMania Reading Celebration and WrestleMania 30. Celebrities include Ellen Degeneres, Maroon 5, Conan O’Brien, Drew Brees, Katie Couric, Sarah Silverman, Mike Tyson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, DJ Pauly D, Kevin James, Chelsea Handler, Marlon Wayans, Alice Cooper, Alison Sweeney, Terry Crews, Shawne Merriman, Gabriel Iglesias, Judah Friedlander, Shane West, Chilli and Flo Rida.
WRESTLEMANIA ‘PIN IT TO WIN IT’ CONTEST
WWE fans can re-pin their favorite WrestleMania photos on Pinterest and enter for the chance to win WrestleMania 30 merchandise. Fans can visit www.Pinterest.com/WWE to access the WWE board.
HIDE-AND-TWEET CONTESTS TO GIVE AWAY LAST-MINUTE TICKETS
WWE will host three interactive “Hide and Tweet” contests in New Orleans, giving fans the opportunity to win pairs of tickets to Axxess, WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and WrestleMania 30. Fans can follow @WWE to find clues revealing the whereabouts of the tickets. Additionally, fans outside the US can enter WWE’s hashtag contest for a chance to win free online codes for the WrestleMania 30 pay-per-view on Sunday, April 6 at 7 pm ET.
OFFICIAL WRESTLEMANIA-WEEK HASHTAGS
#WRESTLEMANIA – All-purpose WrestleMania-week hashtag
#WWENETWORK – WWE Network hashtag
#AXXESS – WrestleMania Axxess hashtag
#WWEHOF – WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony hashtag
#STARS4KIDS – Superstars for Kids party hashtag
About WWE
WWE, 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 entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (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/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press 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, without limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and our new network distribution agreements; risks relating to the launch and maintenance of our new network; 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 and acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to regulatory matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive and fragmented nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to new businesses and strategic investments; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to general economic conditions and our exposure to bad debt risk; risks relating to litigation; risks relating to market expectations for our financial performance; risks relating to our revolving credit facility; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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 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.
