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NBCUNIVERSAL
CABLE ENTERTAINMENT REACHES MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH WWE®
FOR MONDAY NIGHT RAW® ON USA NETWORK AND SMACKDOWN®
ON SYFY

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NBCUNIVERSAL
CABLE ENTERTAINMENT REACHES MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH WWE®
FOR MONDAY NIGHT RAW® ON USA NETWORK AND SMACKDOWN®
ON SYFY
NEW
YORK AND STAMFORD May 15, 2014 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 10.8M
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 2.2M P18-49, 2.3M P25-54 and
5M total viewers P2+. The 2-hour FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN
on Syfy averages 1.2M P18-49, 1.3M P25-54 and 3.2M
total viewers P2+. The two programs have reached 37.5M
people 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.


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