WWE on Eurosport

CMpunked

WWE issued the following press release today:

Eurosport and WWE(R) Sign Two-Year Exclusive Programming Deal

LONDON, Jan 28, 2009 -- Eurosport and World Wrestling Entertainment(R) (WWE) have announced a distribution deal for two action-packed WWE programs. The two-year agreement will see Eurosport broadcast 'This Week in WWE' and 'WWE Vintage Collection' in all its European territories excluding the UK, delivering WWE programming to over 200 million viewers and 58 countries across the continent. Launching on February 9, 2009, Eurosport will broadcast 'This Week in WWE' and 'WWE Vintage Collection' back to back in prime time.
'This Week in WWE' is a weekly catch up show exclusively produced for Eurosport, featuring clips from WWE's flagship programmes RAW(R), SmackDown(R) and ECW(R). Each Monday night at 21:00 CET, fans can catch up on WWE's week of action, including the latest matches, rivalries and news on their favourite WWE Superstars and Divas.
Through this agreement, Eurosport also acquires exclusive European (excluding UK) programming rights to 'WWE Vintage Collection', which is dedicated to WWE legends from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Airing each Monday at 21:30 CET, Eurosport will be the only channel in continental Europe offering fans access to WWE's greatest legends, including Stone Cold Steve Austin(R), The Rock(R), Hulk Hogan, and Bret 'The Hitman' Hart.
"Offering top quality WWE programming on our channel will reinforce Eurosport's positioning as Europe's leading sports and entertainment group. Eurosport is committed to offering viewers top of the line programming. We believe that WWE programming will be an asset to our channel and will attract family and younger audiences. We are delighted to sign an agreement with WWE, the most prominent action entertainment organisation in the world" explains Arnaud Simon, Broadcast Director for Eurosport.
"Delivering WWE programming to our fans on a pan-regional basis is testament to the ever-increasing demand for the WWE product in Europe. We are delighted to announce our partnership with a group of the strength and breadth of Eurosport, which will see WWE broadcast in over 100 million homes across continental Europe," adds Andrew Whitaker, President of International for WWE.
About the Eurosport Group
The Eurosport Group is the leading sports multimedia platform in Europe. Eurosport, the ndeg1 pan-European TV channel, is transmitted in 20 languages reaching 116 million homes and 240 million viewers across 59 countries. Eurosport HD is the high definition simulcast of Eurosport. Eurosport 2, the new generation sports channel, broadcasts to 34 million households in 11 languages across 46 countries. Eurosport Asia-Pacific, launched in 2006, already reaches 10 countries in the region. Eurosport Network of websites is Europe's ndeg1 online sports destination, up to 9.9 million unique visitors* per month across all 9 websites, including four co-branded sites with Yahoo! (.uk, .it, .de, .es) and dedicated sites in France, Russia, Sweden, Poland and China. Eurosportnews provides up-to-date sports news transmitted worldwide. Eurosport Mobile offers Live streaming, WAP & I-Mod services with breaking sports news and results. Eurosport Events is the group's expert division in the organisation, management and promotion of international sporting events. *comScore June 2008
About World Wrestling Entertainment
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/

Trademarks
All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbour 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, feature films, 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.
SOURCE: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

That should be interesting.

Especially to those who has parents too cheap to get the sky sports package:pac:

Brolly

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

That should be interesting.

Especially to those who has parents too cheap to get the sky sports package:pac:

I'd bet Ireland will be included in the generalised "excluding the UK" comment - which means no benefit for us!

amacachi

Not in UK, wouldn't surprised me if "UK" includes Ireland.

slicus ricus

I'm pretty sure that the Eurosport we get over here on NTL is British Eurosport and therefore would be excluded from the WWE deal.

Mossy Monk

No chance of that being shown here. Eurosport however is available free on satellite if you point your dish in the right direction.

citytillidie

Will not be shown here, if we got European Eurosport would be lots of prem footy on

newballsplease

i hate eurosport. the one commentator for every sport!

Mossy Monk

citytillidie wrote: »

Will not be shown here, if we got European Eurosport would be lots of prem footy on

That is only on Eurosport in Eastern Europe.

citytillidie

K but Sky Sports has exclusive rights to WWE material for the UK and Ireland markets

CMpunked

citytillidie wrote: »

K but Sky Sports has exclusive rights to WWE material for the UK and Ireland markets

That explains why its excluding the UK.

Terry

I'm sure the heads in the Satellite forum will be able to show you how to pick up the relevant channels.