WWE
Unveils Orginal Content For Mobile Phones Using
Bango Direct-To-Consumer Technology - 2nd May
2006
(Credit: WWE)
New
York, N.Y., May 2, 2006 - World Wrestling Entertainment®
today unveiled its slate of original content “made
for mobile” it will launch later this month
with a focus on one-of-a-kind video content unique
to mobile telephones. The original content, which
will be available to users on all networks worldwide,
was unveiled today at Bango Nexus 2006, a mobile
Internet summit.
The
WWE mobile initiative will feature at least 75
videos a month, with a potential for delivery
of another 70 videos a month through premium based
subscription services. Each video will be produced
specifically for wireless, range from 2 minutes
to 5 minutes in length, and will work across thousands
of handsets deployed around the world.
“WWE
views developing and supplying content to the
mobile industry as a strategic growth opportunity
and yet another way for us to deepen our daily
relationships with our millions of fans around
the world,” said Shane McMahon, WWE’s
Executive Vice President, Global Media. “The
great thing about our comprehensive digital content
is that it scales worldwide and complements our
other television and consumer product offerings
in more than 130 countries.”
WWE’s
made-for-mobile original content will be made
available using Bango’s Direct-to-Consumer
Technology, which enables consumers on any mobile
network to browse WWE content at their leisure
and then buy via their phone bill, by credit/debit
card or PayPal, using the Bango platform.
“WWE’s
decision to work with Bango reflects the consumer’s
increasing appetite for mobile content that can
be easily accessed and paid for – regardless
of which mobile operator they choose to use,”
said Bango Senior Vice President of Marketing,
Anil Malhotra. “Selling content direct-to-consumer
is no longer a hard job thanks to Bango. Through
Bango technology, WWE can start charging for content
across multiple countries straight away.”
Among
the WWE program offerings will be:
*
WWE Mobile News: WWE’s daily video news
show, recorded from the WWE HQ in Stamford, Conn.,
will update fans on all the latest news going
on in the world of sports entertainment.
*
Five More Questions: The spin-off to WWE.com’s
popular web short “Five Questions with the
Champ” will feature current WWE Champ John
Cena® answering five questions sent to him
by wireless subscribers.
*
Slam of the Week: Top highlights from WWE’s
weekly programming.
*
Diva Shorts: Videos of WWE’s beautiful Divas
delivered three times a week.
Other
programs will deliver previews and post-event
commentary for popular television programs Monday
Night RAW® (USA) and Friday Night SmackDown®
(UPN), and profiles of WWE Superstars and WWE
Legends. Other video features will include Superstar-specific
footage, pay-per-view match previews and recaps,
and information on the latest WWE events, appearances,
licensed products and merchandise.
WWE
also will be offering seven Premium packages,
starting in July with “Hell On Your Cell,”
a monthly video sampler of some of sports entertainment’s
most extreme showcases. Each package offers 8
to 10 videos a month, with each video running
about 3 minutes to 5 minutes long. Other premium
packages to follow will focus on WWE Legends,
WWE Divas, and fantasy gaming.
“WWE
has unique advantages that will make it a better
experience for mobile phone users than any other
brand of sports or entertainment on the planet.
Not only do we have direct, daily access to all
of our Superstars, but the wrestling action itself
is not heavily reliant on wide shots like baseball,
NASCAR, football and soccer,” said Chris
Chambers, WWE Senior Vice President, Interactive
Media. “Each week, we provide compelling
programs to our fans, and we believe we can offer
an equally compelling entertainment experience
for our fans enjoyment in a smaller screen format.”
In
addition, WWE Mobile will feature text news alerts,
schedules, ringtones, wallpapers, and a fantasy
ticker. WWE also offers WWE Mobile Alert, an SMS
service that is currently available on all major
mobile carriers.
To
view a sample of WWE's mobile content, please
click here
The
demand for WWE content has been growing, particularly
online. Monthly unique visitors to WWE.com have
increased to more than 13.5 million, approximately
double the amount from the prior year, as WWE
has made its website more news oriented.
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.
Bango
(AIM: BGO) has developed and deployed an open,
global infrastructure platform that enables content
providers to market, sell and deliver their products
and services directly to mobile phone users on
all mobile networks using the mobile Internet.
This “direct-to-consumer” approach
operates alongside the mobile carrier’s
decks.
The
Bango platform has given mobile phone subscribers
around the world greater access to third-party
content. Leading content brands are now adopting
the Bango Service to engage with all of their
existing and potential mobile customers directly
– irrespective of mobile carrier. For further
information, go to www.bango.com.
-30-
WWE
Media Contact: Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
WWE
Investor Contact: Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
Bango
Contact: Laurie Riedman 585-396-3100
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.
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