NEW DELHI & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WWE (NYSE:WWE) and Ten Sports have extended their television distribution agreement for five more years through 2019 while growing their partnership beyond WWE’s weekly flagship programming to include localized content, more languages and live events.
In addition to the continued broadcasts of WWE’s flagship programs Raw®, SmackDown®, NXT™ and monthly pay-per-view specials, starting January 1, 2015, Ten Sports will introduce a new one-hour fully customized version of Raw tailored specifically for the Indian audience and add WWE Main Event™ to its programming lineup. Ten Sports will also air WWE content in multiple Indian languages for the first time and bring WWE live events back to India in 2015.
Rajesh Sethi, CEO, Ten Sports said, “We are very excited to extend our long-standing, successful partnership with WWE for the Indian Subcontinent. WWE is the leader in sports entertainment, and its high-quality entertainment is a huge hit among Indian audiences. Being rights holders since 2002, we have seen WWE grow over the years to dominate the sports entertainment space, and with this new deal through 2019, we are confident of taking our partnership to the next level, delivering audiences more breakthrough programming and engagement opportunities in the years to come.”
“India remains a strategically important market for WWE and we are thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with Ten Sports, the region’s leader in sports programming,” said Gerrit Meier, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “As the value of the WWE brand and our content continues to increase around the world, the scale and scope of this new agreement illustrates our ability to drive a passionate and engaged audience as well as the potential we have for future growth.”
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, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich 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/.
About Ten Sports Network
Ten Sports Network (Taj Television Limited) is a full-service television concern, based in Dubai Media City with eight regional offices across the sub-continent. Ten Sports was established in January 2001, and is owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited – India’s Leading Television, Media & Entertainment Company. Ten Sports Network portfolio consists of the Ten Sports, Ten Cricket, Ten Action, Ten Golf & Ten HD channels, digital studio facilities and integrated transmission services for various broadcast clients.
Ten Sports is a leading sports TV Channel Network reach to 150+ million viewers in over 12 countries with 5 dedicated channels in India and 3 International channels.
Ten Sports Network own broadcast rights for 5 cricket boards – South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, offering its viewers the best of Cricket action round the clock.
Ten Sports Network is packed with sensational sports action throughout the year and holds exclusive broadcast rights to the Wrestling (WWE), Football (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Spanish Super Cup, French League, Capital One Cup, Npower Championship, Copa del ray, Brazilian League), Tennis (US Open, WTA Events, ATP events), Golf (European Tour, Asian Tour, Ryder Cup, , US PGA Championship, LPGA Tour, Royal Trophy, PGTI and Golf Channel Block), Athletics (Asian Games, Commonwealth Game, Athletics World Championship), Tour de France, EFLI (American Football), LFL and Beach Volleyball.
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.
