Here is a breakdown of some figures from WWE’s first quarter earnings report issued earlier today:
* Live event revenue was $18.0 million compared to $24.6 million in the prior year quarter.
* There were 87 events (four international events) during the current quarter compared to 74 events (eight international events) in the prior year quarter.
* North American events generated $17.0 million of revenues from 83 events as compared to $21.8 million from 66 events in the prior year quarter.
* North American average attendance was approximately 6,100 in the current quarter as compared to 7,200 in the prior year, a decrease of approximately 15%.
* International events generated approximately $1.0 million of revenues as compared to $2.8 million in the prior year quarter.
* Venue Merchandise revenues were $4.6 million as compared to $5.6 million in the prior year quarter.
* Television Rights Fees revenues were $24.9 million as compared to $24.0 million in the prior year quarter.
* WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand revenues were $1.5 million as compared to $1.6 million in the prior year quarter.
* Home Video net revenues were $9.2 million as compared to $14.0 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in Home Video revenues primarily reflects the release of two fewer titles than the prior year and a reduction in the sale of titles from our catalog. DVD shipments declined 23% to approximately 912,000 units in the current period.
* Licensing revenues were $19.8 million as compared to $26.2 million in the prior year quarter, primarily reflecting lower video game and toy sales. Video game revenues declined by $5.7 million, while revenues related to toys declined by approximately $0.6 million in the current quarter.
* Magazine publishing net revenues were $3.5 million as compared to $2.9 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting $0.5 million associated with WWE Kids Magazine in the current year quarter. WWE Kids Magazine’s first issue was distributed in the second quarter of the prior year.
* Revenues from Digital Media related businesses were $6.9 million as compared to $8.1 million in the prior year, representing a 15% decrease. WWE.com revenues were $3.9 million as compared to $4.5 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting a decline in online advertising revenues. WWEShop revenues were $3.0 million as compared to $3.6 million in the prior year quarter. The average revenue per order decreased slightly to $49.63, as compared to $51.17 in the prior year quarter, while the number of orders declined by 12% to approximately 60,000.
* The company issued this statement on WWE Studios: “We recorded revenue of $3.7 million in the current quarter related to our three theatrical releases, See No Evil, The Marine, and The Condemned, as compared to $11.3 million in the prior year quarter. During the first quarter we released our fourth feature film, 12 Rounds, which generated approximately $11.8 million in domestic box office receipts through May 3, 2009. During the current quarter we also released one Direct-to-DVD film, Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia.”