New update on WWE Network, current subscriber number

WWE revealed today that the WWE Network currently garners 731,000 active subscribers, adding an additional 33,000 subscribers from the last reported figure back in July. This figure is as of 9/30 and doesn’t count any new subscriptions in October.

You can check out the official release from WWE below on the updated figures and added expansions planned for the WWE Network later this year below.

WWE Network Update

• Network segment revenues increased 68% from the prior year quarter and 26% on a year-to-date basis, reflecting the launch of WWE Network. Viewership of WWE Network’s most compelling content increased as evidenced by the Night of Champions in September. Domestic transactions related to that event, as measured by a combination of network subscribers and pay-per-view buys, were nearly 9 times the event’s 85,000 domestic pay per-view buys in the prior year quarter.

• WWE Network added 31,000 subscribers in the quarter, representing a 4% increase from June 30, and reached 731,000 subscribers at quarter-end. Subscriber growth reflected the acquisition of 286,000 subscribers, which was 71% above the gross subscriber additions in the period between April 7 (the day after WrestleMania) and June 30 (WWE Network added 182,000 gross subscribers during the April 1- April 6 period, which included WrestleMania). Through September 30, WWE Network had attracted approximately 971,000 unique subscribers with 75% of these subscribers active as of that date.

• The U.S. version of WWE Network was made available in more than 170 countries and territories beginning August 12. Between that date and September 30, WWE Network acquired approximately 30,000 international subscribers, representing 10% of gross additions. Additionally, on August 12, the Company introduced a $12.99 (cancel at any time) plan, which reached 23,000 subscribers at quarter end.

• Viewer data continues to indicate that, on average, close to 90% of subscribers access WWE Network at least once per week and 99% access WWE Network at least once per month. Driving that engagement is WWE Network’s compelling live and new original content. Notably, the Company’s SummerSlam event, which aired live on WWE Network, ranked 1st on Nielsen’s Twitter TV Ratings, achieving the largest social media presence of any series
or special during the week of August 11, beating every program in this Nielsen category on U.S. cable and broadcast networks.

Future Plans

• New Simplified Price Plan: Beginning November 1, the Company will introduce a new simplified price plan at $9.99 per month with no commitment (cancel at any time). Current subscribers will benefit from this new simplified plan as they are migrated to this new plan beginning in December. The new pricing structure reflects management’s belief in the broad appeal of WWE Network content and is comparable to that of other subscription-based content platforms including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Additionally, all new subscribers who register for the network in November will receive the month of November for free, including the opportunity to watch Survivor Series live on Sunday, November 23rd.

• WWE Network to be available in the U.K.: The Company continues to develop the international platform for WWE Network and plans to make the U.S. version of WWE Network available in the U.K. on an over-the-top basis in November.

• New Content / Product Features: New content recently added to the network includes WWE Rivalries. The original series, which provides a documentary-style look at some of the greatest moments in WWE history, debuted on October 27. In addition to providing new live and original content, the network has increased access to the Company’s comprehensive video-on-demand library to more than 2,500 hours from more than 1,500 hours at
launch. Also enhancing subscribers’ viewing experience, the Company plans to roll out new “resume play” and “watch list” features across WWE Network media platforms by the end of December.

• Limited advertising: WWE Network began including a limited amount of advertising on October 13 with Pepsi, Mattel, K-Mart, Take-Two Interactive, and Pure Talk USA as the network’s initial sponsors. The Company’s advertising strategy anticipates no commercial breaks during scheduled programming, limited advertising between shows, and occasional advertising before the network’s video-on-demand content.

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