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NBCUniversal signs multi-year deal for WWE

May 19, 2014

By Nik Roseveare

NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) have announced a multi-year strategic partnership for WWE’s flagship programming and ratings juggernaut Monday Night Raw for a three-hour block on USA Network and Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy.  The two programmes are the longest-running weekly episodic entertainment programmes on cable TV with a combined reach of 10.8 million viewers each week.

“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 reports that its weekly programming averages more viewers than the NBA, NASCAR, MLB, NHL and UFC.

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