WWE Network subs up 2%
April 26, 2019
By Nik Roseveare
WWE has reported that Q1 revenues hit $182.4 million (€168.8m), compared to $187.7 million in the prior year quarter.
The entertainment giant saw paid-subscribers to its WWE Network SVoD service increase by 2 per cent to 1.58 million. Total WWE Network subscribers reached 2 million on April 8th, the day after WrestleMania – the company’s flagship annual PPV event – as wrestling fans took advantage of the 1 month free trial.
In the week leading up to Wrestlemania 35, WWE Network subscribers viewed 23.2 million hours of content week, which was on par with the same week last year.
Digital video views across all platforms increased 15 per cent to 7.7 billion; hours consumed increased 23 per cent to 300 million hours across digital platforms; and social media followers increased 12 per cent to over 1 billion.
“During the quarter, we continued to execute our strategy and achieved targeted financial results,” commented Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO. “While engagement metrics over the past two quarters were impacted by Superstar absences, we believe they will improve as our talent return and we launch our new season following a successful WrestleMania. We remain excited about the future, particularly with our debut on Fox in October.”
Smackdown Live, one of WWE’s weekly shows, will air on Fox in the US from October after nearly 3 years on The USA Network.