BSkyB Secures WWE For Five More Years

LONDON, Jan 30, 2014 -- WWE® (NYSE:WWE) and BSkyB (LSE:BSY.L) have extended their partnership for five more years to exclusively broadcast WWE’s weekly flagship programming to more than 15.5 million homes in the U.K. and Ireland through 2019. This new agreement carries WWE and BSkyB’s partnership into a milestone 30th year.

BSkyB will continue to carry WWE’s Raw® and SmackDown® programs and will add WWE Main Event® to its lineup. All programming will air in high definition on Sky Sports with additional programming available on Sky 1. All 12 WWE pay-per-views will also be available on Sky Sports Box Office including the annual pop-culture extravaganza WrestleMania®.

“WWE is brilliant entertainment, and I am delighted to once again extend our relationship with them,” said Barney Francis, Managing Director, Sky Sports. “WWE is hugely popular with our viewers, and now, they can continue to watch all the big events and weekly programmes with us.”

“We’re proud of our 30-year partnership with BSkyB, the leader in delivering the best in sports and entertainment,” said Gerrit Meier, Executive Vice President, International, WWE. “This partnership is a testament to the passion our fans have for WWE content and the long-term growth potential for our brand worldwide.”

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE:WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

About Sky

Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi. NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sports and increasing access to, and participation in, the arts. Sky employs 24,000 people, has annual revenues of £7.2 billion and is estimated to support a £5.9 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BSY).

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and our new network distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the network; risks relating to new businesses generally and risks specific to the new network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

SOURCE: WWE

ATEME And Zixi Provide Technology To Stream Live "Ultimate Fighting Championship" Events Over The Internet

High-Quality Video Streaming Supports Multiple Production Workflows Over IP Regardless of Limited Connectivity or Unpredictable Bandwidth

PARIS, Jan. 21, 2014 -- ATEME, a global leader in advanced video compression solutions for the broadcast industry, today announced that, through its partnership with Zixi, LLC, the company has delivered the technology necessary to stream high-quality video over the Internet for Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) events.

NEWS FACTS:

The UFC's plan to produce approximately 50 six-hour live fight events across the world, results in production challenges: Many locations and venues have limited IP connectivity, making it difficult to deliver an efficient means of video distribution.

The UFC selects best-of-breed contribution solution: UFC looked to technology partners, ATEME and Zixi, to provide a solution that utilizes Internet connectivity for the distribution of video content and new ways to support multiple production workflows over IP.

Successful proof-of-concept results in reliable connectivity: Based on the success of the initial proof-of-concept, a small rack now travels around the globe, to every fight, to supplement global satellite feeds with video-over-IP delivery.

Supports multiple production "cloud-based" workflows: This groundbreaking technology produces high-quality compression that allows the UFC to use any feed from its production truck and create distinct workflows to distribute video around the world. Additionally, the software has provided the UFC with the tools to develop a series of "cloud-based" workflows that include the live capture of events, statistics logging and live streaming.

Las Vegas UFC event demonstrates highly innovative application: The first successful trial of the technology took place in Las Vegas during the George St. Pierre/Hendricks fight on November 16, 2013 and is now in continuous use for all events.

SUPPORTING QUOTES:

Christy King, VP technology R&D, Zuffa, LLC, said: "We had significant challenges in delivering multiple formats of video with limited connectivity and unpredictable bandwidth. The Zixi/ATEME solution is an innovative approach that provides reliable video feeds for our staff, media partners and worldwide fans. The solution is a low-cost, high-quality video experience."

Eric Bolten, VP strategic account development at Zixi, LLC, said: "The integration of our streaming technology into ATEME's Kyrion encoders and decoders delivers an enhanced quality of service over the 'Open Internet'. The power of combining our streaming technology with ATEME's world-class video quality is demonstrated in the successful launch by Zuffa/UFC."

About ATEME:

ATEME is a world leading provider of HEVC / H.265, MPEG-4 / H.264 and MPEG-2 bandwidth efficient compression technology. ATEME encoding solutions are deployed widely for broadcast contribution links, distribution, multi-screen live streaming, OTT and VOD applications. More information is available at www.ateme.com.

SOURCE: ATEME

WWE® STUDIOS, RELATIVITY AND BLUMHOUSE PRODUCTIONS PARTNER ON INTREPID PICTURES’ OCULUS

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan 18, 2014 -- WWE Studios (NYSE:WWE), Relativity and Blumhouse Productions announced today a partnership in connection to the release of Intrepid Pictures’ Oculus, the Mike Flanagan-directed supernatural horror film starring Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Not Another Happy Ending), Brenton Thwaites (the upcoming Maleficent, The Giver), Rory Cochrane (Argo, Parkland) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Riddick). WWE Studios will leverage its extensive multi-platform reach to help promote the film that debuted at the Midnight Madness section of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Oculus was developed and produced by Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans of Intrepid Pictures, who co-financed with MICA Entertainment and is set for a wide theatrical release on April 11, 2014.

Oculus was directed by Mike Flanagan (Absentia, Ghosts of Hamilton Street), and produced by Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans (Safe House, The Strangers, The Raven). Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter, Limitless), Tucker Tooley (The Fighter, Limitless), Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Michael Luisi (The Call, Dead Man Down), Anil Kurian (Sahara, The Raven), D. Scott Lumpkin (Safe Haven), Peter Schlessel (Drive, Looper) and Dale Johnson (Stuck in Love) serve as Executive Producers. The screenplay is by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard based on the short film Oculus: The Man With The Plan, written by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Seidman.

Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force­­ unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century. With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…

"WWE Studios is thrilled to be getting into business for the first time with Relativity and partnering again with Blumhouse on the release of such a superbly crafted, heart-pounding thriller as Oculus," said Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios.

Bradley Buchanan, SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of WWE Studios.

About WWE Studios

WWE Studios produces a diverse slate of feature films for theatrical release, home entertainment and digital platforms through distribution partnerships with global entertainment companies. The WWE’s film division led by President, Michael Luisi, is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and continues to create content for audiences of all ages. Films recently produced by WWE Studios include The Call with Halle Berry and WWE Superstar David Otunga®, Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett®, The Marine 3: Homefront with WWE Superstar The Miz® in the third follow-up in the explosive Marine adventures, 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, the second installment in the action franchise, starring WWE Superstar Randy Orton®, No One Lives co-produced with Pathé Films and released theatrically by Anchor Bay Films starring Luke Evans and WWE Superstar Brodus Clay™, and Christmas Bounty, an action comedy starring WWE Superstar The Miz and Francia Raisa, which premiered on ABC Family during “The Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” and released on Blu-Ray/DVD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Upcoming films for WWE Studios include Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery which pairs WWE Superstars with Scooby and the gang releasing direct to home March 25, 2014 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment; Leprechaun: Origins directed by Zach Lipovsky starring WWE Superstar Hornswoggle® will be distributed by Lionsgate in August 2014; See No Evil 2 starring WWE Superstar Kane® directed by the Soska Sisters will also be distributed by Lionsgate in October 2014; The Fall Guy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson releasing in 2015, and The Flintstones another Warner Brothers Animation feature releasing in early 2015 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment which joins Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas.

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE:WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYSE:WWE) 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, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

About Relativity

Relativity is a next-generation media company engaged in multiple aspects of entertainment, including film production; financing and distribution; television; sports management; music publishing; and digital media. Ryan Kavanaugh is the company’s Founder and CEO.

Relativity Studios has produced, distributed or structured financing for nearly 200 motion pictures, generating more than $17 billion in worldwide box office revenue and earning 60 Oscar® nominations. Recent films include: Safe Haven, Act of Valor and Immortals, the latter two opening number one at the box office in their debut. Relativity’s other films include the eight-time Oscar® nominee The Social Network as well as Limitless and two-time Oscar® winner The Fighter. Upcoming films include 3 Days to Kill, starring Kevin Costner, Earth to Echo, Oculus and author Nicholas Sparks’ The Best of Me.

Relativity Television is one of the country’s largest suppliers of unscripted television and has recently expanded to produce scripted series. Relativity Sports is the industry’s fastest growing sports agency, providing more than 300 NBA, NFL and MLB athletes with services ranging from contract negotiation to custom film and television content production.

For more information, please visit relativitymedia.com.

About Blumhouse Productions

Blumhouse Productions, founded by Jason Blum, is a multi-media production company that has pioneered a new model of studio filmmaking- producing high-quality micro-budget films for wide release. Since its launch, Blumhouse has produced more than 30 feature films including the highly profitable Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge and Sinister franchises, all of which significantly out-grossed their budgets on opening weekend. Blumhouse's The Purge, its first production under its first-look deal with Universal Pictures, opened to more than $34 million on its opening weekend with a budget of just $3 million. Insidious: Chapter Two from FilmDistrict, grossed $41.05 million on its opening weekend with just a $5m budget. Blumhouse's upcoming micro-budget wide releases include Oculus for Relativity, Jessabelle for Lionsgate, The Next Chapter of The Purge for Universal and Paranormal Activity 5 for Paramount. In addition, Blumhouse is working on both scripted and non-scripted television projects. Blumhouse executive produced Stranded for SyFy and The River for ABC, and is also working on projects with HBO and MTV.

About Intrepid Pictures

Founded in 2004 by Trevor Macy, Intrepid Pictures is a feature film production and co-financing company with a mandate to produce horror, thriller, action, and comedy. Intrepid has produced eleven pictures to date, including the $82 million worldwide box office hit "The Strangers". Intrepid Pictures also produced and co-financed Summit Entertainments action film, "The Cold Light of Day" starring Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver and Henry Cavill; "The Raven," starring John Cusack and directed by James McTeigue. Additionally, Intrepid developed and executive produced Universal Pictures project “Safe House,” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, directed by Daniel Espinoza.

SOURCE: WWE

WWE® To Host WWE Network Conference Call

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan 09, 2014 -- WWE (NYSE:WWE) announced that it will host a conference call on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 to discuss the launch of WWE Network. The Company’s Chairman & CEO, Vincent K. McMahon, and the Company’s Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, George Barrios, will host the conference call beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the financial implications of the WWE Network on the Company’s business plan.

All interested parties are welcome to listen to a live web cast that will be hosted through the Company’s web site at corporate.wwe.com. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-800-697-5978 (toll free) or 1-630-691-2750 from outside the U.S. (conference ID for both lines: 6775847). Please reserve a line 15 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call.

The WWE Network presentation referenced during the call will be made available on January 14, 2014 at corporate.wwe.com. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the conference call concludes, and can be accessed on the Company’s web site.

About WWE:

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and our new network distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the network; risks relating to new businesses generally and risks specific to the new network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

SOURCE: WWE

WWE® Network Provides Significant Earnings Potential

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan 09, 2014 -- WWE (NYSE:WWE) yesterday announced WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, will launch live in the U.S. on Monday, February 24, featuring all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania® – valued at more than $600 per year for $9.99 per month with a 6-month commitment. WWE Network will also include groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch. WWE Network takes advantage of the sharp rise in the consumption of streamed video programming as it will be delivered to fan households through over-the-top (“OTT”) digital distribution rather than via traditional cable, satellite and telco providers. The launch of the network represents a key element of the Company’s 2013-2015 business plan, which was designed to achieve significant earnings growth. Management maintains its expectation that the planned network will contribute to potentially doubling or tripling the company’s 2012 OIBDA results of $63 million by 2015.1

“WWE Network allows us to transform and reimagine how we deliver our premium live content and 24/7 programming directly to our fans around the world,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. “WWE Network will provide transformative growth for our company and unprecedented value for our fans.”

“The creation of a network is one of WWE’s primary growth drivers, which also include the renegotiation of key global content agreements and monetization of WWE’s best-in-class digital and social media presence. We continue to believe that these initiatives will enable WWE to significantly raise its earnings profile by 2015,” added George Barrios, Chief Strategy & Financial Officer. “Although these initiatives hold significant potential, our financial performance for 2014 could fall within a wide range of outcomes depending on the rate of subscriber acquisition for the network, potential pay-per-view cannibalization and the outcome of our content negotiations. This wide range of outcomes in 2014 includes potentially lower earnings than 2013. As we manage this transition, our plan indicates sufficient financial capacity to fund our growth initiatives, support ongoing business requirements and maintain our current dividend.”

Foundation for Growth: The Demand for WWE Content

We believe that a premium subscription model delivered through OTT digital distribution is the best approach in the U.S. to capitalize on our fans’ commitment to our brand, their desire for more WWE content, and their propensity for consuming video content on alternative digital platforms. Our consumer research indicates that a high proportion of U.S. and international television viewers have an affinity for WWE content. This research indicates that in the U.S., approximately 53% of television households have an affinity for WWE content (i.e., 62 million homes including lapsed fans), two-thirds of which (41 million homes) are characterized as active households, including passionate and casual viewers. Our research also indicates that an additional 18% of U.S. television households, or 21 million homes, include lapsed fans that we have the potential to re-engage with our content.2

The “OTT” Network Business Model

Fans can subscribe to WWE Network beginning at 9am ET on Monday, February 24 at WWE.com, and for a limited time will be offered a free one week trial. Based on our market research, we estimate that a fully distributed domestic pay network could ultimately attract between 2 million and 3 million subscribers at a “steady state.” These subscriber estimates derive from a current base of approximately 47 million WWE broadband households in the U.S. (which is projected to grow to 52 million households in “steady state” including lapsed fans). These take-rates are based on extensive consumer research and the value proposition for a network that reflects the inclusion of our pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania, as well as compelling new original content, reality programming, in-ring shows and a vast video-on-demand library that leverages the tremendous appeal of WWE’s historic content. The research indicates that a WWE network offering would drive significant consumer interest (including households that currently do not purchase pay-per-view events). At a price per month of $9.99, this would represent revenue to WWE of between $225 million and $350 million and incremental OIBDA between $50 million and $150 million at a “steady state.”3

WWE Network will be delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution on desktops and laptops via WWE.com and through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices, Android and iOS mobile devices; media players such as Roku; and game consoles such as Sony PlayStation® 3, Sony PlayStation® 4 and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

Actual results are contingent on several factors, including the necessity of entering into additional platform distribution agreements. Financial results of the network could vary materially from the expected range based on the rate of subscriber adoption and churn rates, as well as changes in pricing, promotion levels and distribution terms. Reaching a range of 2 million to 3 million subscribers at “steady state”, assumes a subscriber ramp that reaches 1 million to 2 million subscribers by year-end 2014. Although we will continue to offer our pay-per-view events to consumers on an à la carte basis through current providers, there is risk that not all providers will continue to transmit our pay-per-view programming. We expect the network will reduce OIBDA and net income in 2014 as the initial ramp in subscribers and revenue is not likely to be sufficient to offset both the foregone pay-per-view revenue and the incremental, direct expenses associated with a network launch, such as programming, marketing, customer service and content delivery costs. Ultimately, we believe the network represents a sizable economic opportunity in the U.S. and internationally. WWE Network is expected to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

Notes:

1 WWE defines OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization, excluding feature film amortization and film impairments. OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A limitation of OIBDA is that it excludes depreciation and amortization, which represents the periodic charge for certain fixed assets and intangible assets used in generating revenues for our business. OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income or net income as an indicator of operating performance, or to the statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that operating income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to OIBDA.

2 Estimates of WWE fan households are based on our consumer research performed by a third party, which surveyed a representative sample of 12,000 U.S. respondents. The proportion of WWE fan households is presented as a percentage of the 116 million television homes in the U.S. As a measure of the WWE fan audience in the U.S., similar response rates can also be applied to the 88 million broadband homes in the U.S., which results in 47 million WWE broadband households.

3 The OIBDA potential of WWE Network at “steady state” corresponds to incremental operating income between $35 million and $140 million (where the difference between OIBDA and Operating Income is network-related depreciation and amortization).

About WWE:

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.

WWE Network is the next step for Vince McMahon who continues to revolutionize event programming for sports and entertainment. As a pioneer in the television syndication business, McMahon and WWE developed syndicated programming for 30 television stations in 1979. McMahon was also a visionary in the cable television industry by leveraging the new technologies of pay-per-view and closed-circuit television for the first WrestleMania in 1985. Today, WWE delivers fans a revolutionary second screen experience during its flagship programming via the WWE App, which has more than 9 million downloads globally. The experience includes live match continuation during TV commercial breaks, backstage content, live polls, photos and exclusive information on WWE Superstars and Divas.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE:WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the risks discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the WWE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013. In addition, WWE will face a variety of risks associated with launching its OTT network. These risks include the loss of some or all of our pay-per-view business if distributors decide no longer to transmit our pay-per-view programming. In addition, the rate and/or level of network subscriber adoption could be less than anticipated. We have and will continue to rely on third parties to develop the network application and distribute it to consumers which results in expense and subjects us to the risk of nonperformance by these parties. The content production, distribution, marketing and customer service required by the network involve significant capital and operating expenses, and no assurances can be provided that our network revenues will offset these costs. The Company faces the risk of security breach or disruption of our digital delivery of the network. The Company and its service providers will receive personal information, which in most cases will be subject to our privacy policies. Personal information received by our service providers will include credit card information. A significant security breach or other disruption involving our digital delivery infrastructure could: disrupt the proper functioning of the network; result in unauthorized access to the network; allow for the destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of proprietary, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information of the Company or network subscribers; require significant management attention and resources; and subject the Company to litigation and/or damage its reputation. Risks of any new business endeavor include, among other things, diversion of consumers from other Company businesses; diversion of management’s attention and other resources, including available cash, from existing businesses; unanticipated liabilities or contingencies; reduced earnings due to increased amortization, impairment charges and other costs; competition from other companies with more experience in that business; and additional regulatory requirements and compliance costs.

SOURCE: WWE

WWE® Network Launches February 24

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan 08, 2014 -- WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, will launch live in the U.S. on Monday, February 24, featuring all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania® – valued at more than $600 per year for $9.99 per month with a 6-month commitment. WWE Network will also include groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

Fans can subscribe to WWE Network beginning at 9 am ET on Monday, February 24 at WWE.com, and for a limited time will be offered a free one week trial. WWE Network, the first 24/7 network delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution, will be available on desktops and laptops via WWE.com. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation® 3 and Sony PlayStation® 4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

“Today is a historic day for WWE as we transform and reimagine how we deliver our premium live content and 24/7 programming directly to our fans around the world,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. “WWE Network will provide transformative growth for our company and unprecedented value for our fans.”

WWE Network will also offer fans a revolutionary second screen experience for all original programming and live events via the WWE App, similar to the interactive fan experience currently available for flagship TV programs Raw® and SmackDown®.

WWE collaborated with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) to build a powerful solution for delivering 24/7 WWE content to fans. MLBAM will provide its industry-leading technology services, including video streaming infrastructure, application development and operational support for reliable cross-platform distribution.

MLBAM has been at the forefront of streaming technology for more than a decade, powering its own live video subscription product since 2002. Last year, MLBAM managed live video content for more than 25,000 events, covering 80,000 hours of broadcast programming, across its sports and entertainment partners.

“We applaud WWE for this bold, timely and strategic move to fully optimize the power and potential of live entertainment,” said Bob Bowman, President and CEO, MLBAM. “We are proud to work with WWE to help provide its millions of loyal fans with unencumbered access to distinctive and engaging live content across the devices they use most.”

WWE Network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

Programming Highlights

WWE Network will officially launch with the live Monday Night Raw Post-Show on Monday, February 24 at 11:06 pm ET, and fans will instantly have access to the most comprehensive WWE video-on-demand library upon signing up. In addition to live Raw and SmackDown pre- and post-shows every week, new programming including a live studio show and additional on-demand content will be added in the future.

At launch, WWE Network will include:

All 12 Live Pay-Per-View Events

All 12 current WWE pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania – will be available to subscribers live, as well as on demand.

Live pay-per-view 30 minute pre- and post-shows.

Original Programming

Every Monday and Friday night, WWE Network will air 30 minute pre- and post-shows for WWE’s weekly cable programs Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

The Monday Night War™ – a series exploring the shocking real-life stories that fueled the mid-90s rivalry between WWE and WCW®. Battling for ratings dominance, WWE’s Vince McMahon and WCW’s Ted Turner engaged in a masterful game of one-upmanship, and in the process, elevated WWE Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro™ to all-new levels of pop-culture relevance.

WrestleMania Rewind – a comprehensive look back at the most groundbreaking matches and dramatic moments in WrestleMania history, including never-before-seen footage and in-depth interviews.

WWE Countdown™ – a one hour, groundbreaking, interactive, countdown series that puts the power squarely in viewers’ hands by giving the audience the chance to discuss and rank WWE’s most spectacular Superstars, unexpected moments, best catch phrases and more through digital polling and social media interaction.

Coming in April: WWE Legends House™ – WWE’s greatest Legends reunite for a new title – only this time, they’re competing outside of the ring. Imagine a beautiful house in the suburbs – perfectly furnished, with gorgeous landscaping, a lovely pool and quiet, respectable neighbors. WWE Superstars from the past including Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will turn the neighborhood upside down as the house staff tries their best to keep these Legends on time, on speaking terms, and out of trouble in this new reality show.

WWE NXT® – WWE Superstars and Divas of tomorrow face off every week on WWE NXT, a one-hour weekly show that features the brightest and best of WWE’s rising stars. WWE NXT showcases the Superstars and Divas from WWE’s Performance Center as well as appearances from WWE Superstars and Legends in an intimate setting. WWE NXT broadcasts from the state-of-the-art Full Sail LIVE venue on the Full Sail University in campus in Orlando, Florida.

WWE Superstars® – a one-hour weekly show highlighting the best of WWE Superstars and Divas in heart-pounding matches. Features highlights from all WWE programming, as well as a special glimpse at everything going on in the WWE Universe.

Video On Demand

WWE Network will offer all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views as well as classic matches uncut and uncensored, encores of Raw, SmackDown and WWE Main Event™ totaling more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

All episodes of original programming on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after they premiere, allowing viewers to watch on their schedule.

Click here to learn more about WWE Network. Read the WWE Network FAQ here.

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo.

WWE Network is the next step for Vince McMahon who continues to revolutionize event programming for sports and entertainment. As a pioneer in the television syndication business, McMahon and WWE developed syndicated programming for 30 television stations in 1979. McMahon was also a visionary in the cable television industry by leveraging the new technologies of pay-per-view and closed-circuit television for the first WrestleMania in 1985. Today, WWE delivers fans a revolutionary second screen experience during its flagship programming via the WWE App, which has more than 9 million downloads globally. The experience includes live match continuation during TV commercial breaks, backstage content, live polls, photos and exclusive information on WWE Superstars and Divas.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

About MLB ADVANCED MEDIA

Established in June 2000 following a unanimous vote by the 30 Major League Baseball club owners to centralize all of Baseball’s Internet operations, MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM) is the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball. MLBAM manages the official league site, MLB.com, and each of the 30 individual Club sites to create the most comprehensive Major League Baseball resource on the Internet. MLBAM also develops, deploys and distributes the highest-grossing sports app, At Bat, as well as manages live video content for dozens of clients. It captures, encodes and distributes tens of thousands of live video events annually, powering more live events on the Internet than any other property in the world.

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and our new network distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the network; risks relating to new businesses generally and risks specific to the new network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

SOURCE: WWE

I have a friend named April Hunter ...

... and she has a dog, a cute dog (Cosmo) who is more like her child (exactly how it should be), and he needs expensive ACL surgery on both of his knees.

I don't normally do this sort of thing, but April is a good person, and despite having never personally met her "son," I can only assume he's equally good, and I feel both deserve our support.

Money is nice, but not the only thing you can do, as April has so eloquently pointed out, to help remedy this situation.

Anything you contribute will not only be thoroughly appreciated by April, Cosmo, and their family, but by me, and (as Casey Trowbridge and the rest of the former Combat Hooligans know) that means a whole lot ...

Well, they can at least tell you that having April's, Cosmo's, and their family's appreciation means a whole lot.

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone! ...

and, since we all know I'm probably too lazy to create another post, Merry Christmas (in advance)!

WWE® LIVE COMES TO SAUDI ARABIA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 15, 2013 -- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced that it will bring WWE LIVE™ to The Green Halls Stadium, Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Games Complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first time ever with three shows from Thursday, February 13 through Saturday, February 15, 2014. Tickets will go on sale Monday, December 16, 2013 at 12:00pm KSA.

Fans attending WWE LIVE™ will be able to see their favorite Superstars, including current World Heavyweight Champion John Cena™, WWE Champion Randy Orton™, Daniel Bryan™, Mark Henry™, Ryback™, Kofi Kingston™ and many more.**

WWE currently has a strong TV presence in Saudi Arabia with its flagship weekly shows, WWE Raw® and WWE SmackDown®. WWE Raw is broadcasted on MBC and the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and WWE SmackDown can be seen on Orbit Showtime Network.

“Holding three live events in Saudi Arabia for the first time is a testament to the growing demand for WWE’s brand in this region,” said Gerrit Meier, Executive Vice President, International, WWE. “We are very excited to be returning to the Middle East with events in a debut market after successful shows in Abu Dhabi and Qatar earlier this year.”

The event also represents a significant milestone for FLASH Entertainment headquartered in Abu Dhabi who, alongside their local Saudi partners Time Events, has worked with WWE to bring WWE LIVE™ events to the Middle East.

“As the region’s premier event organization we are delighted to be partnering with WWE and Time Events on this historic event,” said John Lickrish, CEO of FLASH Entertainment. “WWE is one of the most popular brands in the world, and we are all hugely excited to be bringing it to the people of Saudi Arabia.”

"TIME Events is all about making a difference and adding to life. We would like to thank FLASH Entertainment and WWE for giving us the opportunity to work side-by-side in bringing WWE to Saudi Arabia for the very first time,” said Ahmed Mashhadi, Managing Director of Time Events. “It plans to be a memorable occasion and one that will be enjoyed by WWE fans across Saudi Arabia.”

Tickets for the three shows will go on sale Monday, December 16, 2013 at 12:00pm KSA time and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae.

** Talent line-up subject to change

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

About Flash

Based in Abu Dhabi, FLASH Entertainment is the region’s premier live events company, with a proven track record in delivering world-class events from movie premieres and classical shows to international sports events and megastar music concerts. FLASH offers comprehensive event management solutions from concepts and designs through to coordinating every stage of production. The company is committed to providing the region with diverse entertainment programmes, grass roots creativity and stimulating the local economy and events’ industry.

In just 4 years, FLASH has diversified its business portfolio developing entertainment that has seen close to two million fans through the doors. Partnering with leading international sports and entertainment organizations such as Live Nation, Cream and UFC, the company is well on its way to achieve its mission of growing from the region’s premier live events company, to a globally recognized peerless entertainment organization. FLASH owns a 10% stake in UFC and manages a multi-million-dirham portfolio of assets including the du Arena and du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

About Time Events

TIME Events is an events development company that is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed in developing localized event content, giving different target segments in Saudi and the Middle East an entertaining, rich and memorable experience outside their homes. Other than events development TIME Events is also aimed to host global event content in the region such as WWE."

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

SOURCE: WWE

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING 7 CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

Pre-fight Media Call Featuring Ray Sefo, Georgi Karakhanyan, Lance Palmer, Elvis Mutapcic, Jesse Taylor, Nick Newell and Sabah Fadai

An audio recording of the entire call can be heard here.

LAS VEGAS (Dec. 3, 2013) - World Series of Fighting hosted a media conference call on Tuesday with "World Series of Fighting 7: Karakhanyan vs. Palmer" headliners Georgi Karakhanyan (22-3-1) and Lance Palmer (7-0), as well as main-card competitors Elvis Mutapcic (13-2), Jesse Taylor (26-9), Nick Newell (10-0) and Sabah Fadai (7-2). Joining the fighters on the call was WSOF President Ray Sefo.

World Series of Fighting 7 will take place this Saturday on Dec. 7 at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Karakhanyan and Palmer headline the NBCSN-televised card, competing for the inaugural World Series of Fighting featherweight title. The live telecast starts at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is preceded by undercard fights streaming live on World Series of Fighting's official website, www.wsof.com, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

The following are highlights from the conference call:

RAY SEFO: "These are exciting times for World Series of Fighting. We are looking to be in every household around the world by the end of 2015. I'm really looking forward to this show and it's a stacked card. Guys like Jesse Taylor and Nick Newell and Elvis Mutapcic are the future stars of this sport. I think it's a pretty exciting time for all these guys."

What can we expect internationally in 2014? Can we expect more fights in Canada?

"Yes, absolutely. We just signed a deal with Australia and New Zealand, they are going to do like six shows. Canada will be about the same thing. Of course they won't all be on the mother ship, meaning they won't all be on NBC. I believe those that aren't would be streamed live."

GEORGI KARAKHANYAN: "I know Lance (Palmer) comes from a good wrestling background and trains with a good team. But at the end of the day it's an MMA fight and so once that door's locks it doesn't matter. It's not a wrestling match. I'm looking to go out there and finish. I like to fight, and I don't mind getting punched in the face. And I don't mind punching him back. I'm just looking to go out there and put on an exciting fight for the Canadian fans. And I'm going for a finish.

"I think I've just learned how to win fights and how to break my opponents. I used to look to go into a fight and finish right away and if I didn't then I would get discouraged. But I've learned from it. I'm in the gym every day unless I'm over-trained or sick. I'm always trying to learn and work on my weaknesses. I'm just learning how to perform under the bright lights once that door locks and all the people are watching."

LANCE PALMER: "It's been a pretty crazy past month and everything's happened pretty quick with the signing last month with the World Series of Fighting also with the world title fight. For me I was in between contracts with another promotion and I had a good couple of calls with the WSOF guys. And things just progressed from there and next thing you know Rick Glenn had to pull out of his fight and they gave me the opportunity for me to step in there on four weeks' notice. So it's been exciting and a fun process so far leading up to this point."

ELVIS MUTAPCIC:

Did you experience any negative feedback based on the controversy following your WSOF 5 fight cancellation vs. Jesse Taylor:

"I got 99 percent positive feedback. There were some people that were questioning if I took something and there's always going to be that. Like I said I was really upset that it happened. We get a chance to make a living doing what we love and that night it gotten taken away. If it wasn't for the World Series being such a great company, me and Jesse would have been out a paycheck. So I just want to thank World Series for that. So I'm just happy that I get to go in there and take care of what we should have finished three months ago.

"I'm really familiar with Jesse. He's a very good wrestler and very well-rounded. I think he's the best fighter that I've faced out there, which I truly think he is. I expect him to be very aggressive and to come forward and I expect a dog fight to the finish."

JESSE TAYLOR: "I just want to get in there and I want to fight. I know it's going to be a good one and I want to have some fun. I'm ready. Me and Elvis are going to put on a great show in Canada. Thank you, Ray Sefo, for everything you've done. I'm hungry and I'm ready."

NICK NEWELL:

On fighting in Fadai's hometown of Vancouver:

"That doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter where we fight. It's another fight and another opponent. It sounds like (Fadai) has got the right mindset. Whatever. It's just another fight and I'm going to go out there and give my best and put on an entertaining fight.

"I'm more worried about Fadai right now and the threat he poses to me. I'm really just concentrated on this fight right now more than anything else. When it comes to the title you have to beat everybody if you think you're the best. In due time I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get there and fight whoever I have to fight. There are no easy fights in the World Series of Fighting.

"I feel like I'm being looked at more for my skill now than for having one hand. People are always going to say, 'Look at that guy, I can't believe it.' It's a part of who I am. If I go to the movies someone will say, 'Look at the guy with one hand going to the movies.' It's always going to be like that. There will be people who have negative things to say but I grew up with it and have a pretty thick skin. I'm a fighter at the end of the day and a pretty good one and that's why I'm in the World Series of Fighting: because of what I've accomplished and not because of the way I was born."

SABAH FADAI: "It's going to be great to fight in my backyard of Vancouver in front of all my fans.

"I'm often asked, 'How do you prepare for a guy with one arm?' You really don't. You can't bring in somebody and tie off their arm. It just doesn't work that way. I think Nick (Newell) is a tough guy. I'm not going to take anything away from him. I think he uses one arm as an advantage. Like I've said before, I'm going to go out there to hurt him. It's our job to fight and that's what I'm going to do. Especially coming into my town, it's just not going to happen."

NBCSN-TELEVISED MAIN CARD
Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Lance Palmer - for inaugural WSOF featherweight title
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor - middleweight tournament semifinal
Sabah Fadai vs. Nick Newell
Dwayne Lewis vs. Kalib Starnes

WSOF.COM-STREAMED PRELIMINARY CARD
Shawn Albrecht vs. Gabriel Solorio
Michael Hill vs. Richard Arsenault
Matt Baker vs. David Perron
Dan Ring vs. Myles Merola
Micah Brakefield vs. Brendan Kornberger

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING

World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America's Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

SOURCE: World Series of Fighting

MIESHA TATE TO JOIN INVICTA FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 7 ANNOUNCE TEAM AS GUEST ANALYST THIS SATURDAY, DEC. 7, LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

Michael Schiavello To Call Play-By-Play Alongside Color Analyst “King” Mo Lawal For Stacked Card Featuring Three World Title Fights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctq_x9bY-is&feature=youtu.be

KANSAS CITY, MO. (Dec. 2, 2013) – Women’s MMA superstar Miesha Tate will join the announce team as guest analyst for this Saturday’s Invicta Fighting Championships 7, airing live on pay-per-view from Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

Tate will call the nine-bout event featuring three world championship fights alongside play-by-play announcer Michael Schiavello and color analyst and Invicta veteran “King” Mo Lawal. Schiavello, a long-time broadcaster, will call his first Invicta PPV telecast.

Tate, a former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion, will face UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champ Ronda Rousey in a long-awaited rematch at UFC 168 later this month.

Invicta Fight Championships 7 is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via IN Demand, DISH, Avail-TVN in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV, SaskTel, TELUS, and MTS in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $14.95. In addition, viewers worldwide may purchase the show at www.invictafc.com and the Invicta Fighting Championship’s Facebook page.

Invicta is also offering a FREE one-hour live viewing in North America, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, available via all aforementioned PPV carriers and The Fight Network in Canada. Viewers worldwide may also watch the free bouts, featuring Sarah D' Alelio (7-4) vs. Tonya Evinger (11-6) at bantamweight and Munah Holland (5-2) vs. Nina Arsanoff (5-4) at flyweight, via www.invictafc.com and Invicta Fighting Championship’s Facebook.

In Saturday’s main event, Invicta FC flyweight (125 pounds) champion Barb Honchak (8-2) will defend her title against three-time “Fight of the Night” winner Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (6-3-1). In the co-feature, Invicta FC strawweight (115 pounds) champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (9-2) will defend her belt against undefeated Brazilian superstar Claudia Gadelha (11-0). In a third world title fight, the inaugural Invicta FC bantamweight (135 pounds) world championship title will be on the line, featuring knockout artist Lauren Murphy (7-0) against unbeaten rising star Miriam Nakamoto (2-0, 1 NC).

For additional information please visit www.IntegratedSportsnet.com or www.invictafc.com.

About Invicta Fighting Championships: Invicta is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information about Invicta or its events and fighters visit www.invictafc.com or follow on Twitter @InvictaFights.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson, in addition to World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Gennady Golovkin, Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com or follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

Source: Brener Zwikel & Associates

Roots Of Fight Honors Combat Sports Icon “Judo” Gene LeBell With Short Film And Event Specific Shirt

Vancouver, BC (December 2nd, 2013) – Roots of Fight celebrates martial arts icon “Judo” Gene LeBell with the release of a short film and accompanying t-shirt, on the anniversary of what is considered the first televised Mixed Martial Arts contest in history, when he faced former middleweight boxer Milo Savage in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 2, 1963.

Responding to a challenge by boxer Jim Beck in Rogue magazine, where he called judo “a complete fraud” and offered $1,000 to any judoka that could defeat a boxer, Gene LeBell agreed to face handpicked Milo Savage in the very first Judo vs. Boxing competition.

“That’s the guy that stepped in and did MMA before there was ever MMA,” said veteran MMA referee “Big” John McCarthy.

In the fourth round of a five-round bout, LeBell used a traditional harai goshi throw to get Savage to the ground, where he proceeded to take the boxer’s back and choke him to sleep in front of an upset hometown crowd.

“People started throwing chairs and pillows,” said “Judo” Gene. “And in Salt Lake City, that’s the way of saying ‘Oh, you put on a great show. We love you.’”

LeBell vs Savage Photo Tee
Vintage dyed & washed T for super soft hand feel with specialty print.

To accompany the event-based shirt which depicts the Judo vs. Boxing match-up, Roots of Fight has released a short film featuring rare footage of LeBell vs. Savage, with commentary from “Judo” Gene protégé’ and UFC champion Ronda Rousey, her mother, the first American World Judo Champion Dr. Ann Maria DeMars, former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn, and more.

The short film can be found below:

Roots of Fight - Gene LeBell vs Savage featuring Ronda Rousey from Roots of Fight on Vimeo.

For more information on Roots of Fight, visit www.rootsoffight.com.

About Roots of Fight

Roots Of Fight pays tribute to the rich history and tradition of martial arts from regions around the globe and connects the history and images of iconic fighters like Muhammad Ali® Bruce Lee™ Helio Gracie and Mike Tyson with the contemporary global scale of mixed martial arts. Roots Of Fight tells an authentic story that reflects a genuine place and time and weaves the true stories of icons from the past with those of the present - paying homage to the roots, regional influence and diversity of each discipline. The “Sweet Science”, “Jun Fan Gung Fu”, “Gracie Jiu Jitsu”, “Jeet Kune Do” along with “Muay Thai” and Krav Maga – legends about these fighting systems and others are explored by Roots Of Fight.

To see and feel Roots of Fight products for yourself,
visit our friends at the Las Vegas Fight Shop, located at:

3663 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-366-0502
www.lvfightshop.com

Source: Jack Taylor PR

Invicta Fighting Championships 7 Women's MMA World Championship Tripleheader Dec. 7 on Pay Per View

HOBOKEN, NJ (October 31, 2013) - Integrated Sports Media announced today that it will distribute Invicta Fighting Championships 7, featuring three world title fights, on pay-per-view in North America, Saturday night, December 7, live from Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

"We look forward to bringing MMA fans an absolutely loaded Invicta FC 7 card, showcasing the best women fighters in the world," Integrated Sports Media president Doug Jacobs commented. "Integrated Sports Media distributed Invicta's first pay-per-view event - Invicta Fight Championships 6- this past July and it was a major hit, featuring non-stop action and competitive fights from the opening match right through the main event."

Invicta Fight Championships 7 is being distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9:00 p.m. ET - 6:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DISH, Avail-TVN in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV, SaskTel, TELUS, and MTS in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $14.95. In addition, viewers may purchase the show at Ustream.TV.

"We are excited about teaming up with Integrated Sports again to deliver an outstanding Invicta Fighting Championships women's world championship tripleheader MMA fight card to a national audience on Pay-Per-View," Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp said. "With this event, we are looking to close out Invicta FC's second year of operation in super-strong fashion, with a stacked card featuring an assortment of the best female athletes in our great sport. Our fans are the best in the world and they are going to be treated to some incredible action on December 7."

The stacked, nine-bout event is headlined by an exciting flyweight showdown between reigning Inficta FC champion Barb Honchak (8-2), of Bettendorf, Iowa and three-time "Fight of the Night" winner Leslie "The Peacemaker" Smith (6-3-1), of Pleasanton, California.

The 34-year-old Honchak, a protégé of living legend Pat Miletich, reeled-off her seventh straight victory on July 13, dominating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vanessa Porto to become the first Invicta FC 125-pound champion in history on July 13.

Smith, a dangerous 31-year-old striker, has become a crowd favorite, engaging in all-out slugfests with her opponents on the five Invicta FC cards that she has appeared on.  On July 13, competing in her first fight as a flyweight after campaigning as a bantamweight, Smith defeated Jennifer Maia by way of a unanimous three-round decision.

Invicta FC strawweight (115 lbs.) champion Carla "Cookie Monster" Esparza (9-2), of Redondo Beach (CA), takes on undefeated Brazilian superstar Claudia Gadelha (11-0) in the co-feature.

The 26-year-old Esparza, a student of famed trainer Colin Oyama, will step in the cage for the first time since sustaining a knee injury during training earlier this year.  In her last effort at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, she registered a unanimous decision over "Rowdy" Bec Hyatt for her fourth consecutive win.

Unstoppable since turning pro in 2008, Gadelha has improved her striking to go with her outstanding submission game. The 24-year-old fighter will make her second start under the Invicta FC banner having scored an impressive win by third round (3:58) TKO over JEWELS champion Ayaka Hamasaki last July.

In the first-ever Invicta FC bantamweight (135 pounds) world championship bout, KO specialist Lauren Murphy (7-0), of Anchorage, Alaska, meets fellow unbeaten star Miriam Nakamoto (2-0, 1 NC) of Dublin (CA).

Murphy has been perfect, thus far, in the Invicta FC cage, earning back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Kaitlin Young and Sarah "The Monster" D'Alelio on April 5 and July 13, respectively.  Prior to her Invicta FC debut, the 30-year-old had scored TKO finishes in all five of her fights.

Veteran Muay Thai champion Nakamoto extended her perfect record at Invicta FC 6, scoring a first round (2:08) TKO on Duda Yankovich off a knee strike and series of punches, earning her "KO of the Night" honors.

Riding a four-fight win streak, Felice "Lil' Bulldog" Herrig (9-4) of Buffalo Grove, Illinois will make her highly-anticipated Invicta FC debut in a strawweight match against unbeaten prospect Tecia "The Tiny Tornado" Torres (3-0), of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Also fighting on the undercards is Scotland's Joanne Calderwood (7-0) versus Finnish strawweight Katja "Killer Bunny" Kankaanpaa (8-0-1) in a battle of unbeaten; Canadian featherweight (145 lbs.) powerhouse Julia "The Jewel" Budd (5-2) puts her three-fight win streak on the line against fellow Canadian, submission ace Charmaine "Not So Sweet" Tweet (4-3); Cincinnati (OH) flyweight Zoila Frausto Gurgel (12-3) collides with Porto (15-6), who plans to rebound from her aforementioned loss to Honchak; Minneapolis (MN) bantamweight Kelly Kobold (18-3) makes her long-awaited Invicta FC debut against Tonya "Triple Threat" Evinger (11-6), fighting out of Odessa, Missouri; two Invicta FC newcomers, New Jersey flyweight Munah "The Perfect Storm" Holland (5-2) and Nina "The Strina" Ansaroff (5-4), of Fort Lauderdale, square-off against each other to round-out the card.

For additional information please visit www.IntegratedSportsnet.com or www.invictafc.com.

About Invicta Fighting Championships:  Invicta is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women's MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.  For more information about Invicta or its events and fighters visit www.invictafc.com or follow on Twitter @InvictaFights.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America's leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson, in addition to World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Gennady Golovkin, Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev.  In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com or follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

SOURCE: Full Court Press

CARD UPDATE: BELLATOR 108

Revel Ovation Hall
Revel Beach, New Jersey
Friday, November 15, 2013
Prelims: Live on spike.com @ 7 PM ET
Televised: Spike TV @ 9 PM ET

PRELIMS
* Sergio DaSilva vs. Rob Sullivan - bantamweights

TELEVISED
* Doug Marshall vs. Alexander Shlemenko - Middleweight title
* Saul Almeida vs. Kurt Pellegrino - lightweights
* Tom DeBlass vs. Vladimir Matyushenko - light heavyweights
* ? vs. ? - welterweight-tourney final
* ? vs. ? - featherweight-tourney final

CARD UPDATE: WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING 6

BankUnited Center
Coral Gables, Florida
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Live on NBC Sports Network @ 9 PM ET
Lineup subject to change

Non-Televised (Live on WSOF.com @ 6 PM ET)

Televised
* Josh Burkman vs. Steve Carl - Welterweight title
* Carson Beebe vs. Marlon Moraes - bantamweights
* Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Lauzon - lightweights

DAVID BAILEY NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF WWE® PERFORMANCE CENTER

STAMFORD, Conn., Sep 04, 2013 -- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced the appointment of David Bailey as General Manager of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Bailey, who previously served as General Manager of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Blue Unit at Feld Entertainment, will report directly to WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Relations and Development, Jane Geddes.

As General Manager of the Performance Center, Bailey will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 26,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, and will work with WWE senior executives to manage the development of the NXT Superstars training at the Center. In addition, Bailey will work with WWE executives to enhance WWE’s relationship with Full Sail University as well as other key partners in the Central Florida region.

While at Feld, Bailey managed more than 350 people including staff, crew and performers, and acted as a conduit between the unit, talent directors, production management and executive management. In addition, Bailey was responsible for overseeing all the operational aspects of the show as well as animal welfare, budgets, and unit movement from city to city.

Prior to Feld, Bailey held management positions at Kohler Company and Siemens VDO. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management of Technology from Athens State University and will reside in the Orlando area.

With 26,000 square-feet, seven training rings, a world-class strength and conditioning program and cutting-edge edit and production facilities, the Performance Center gives WWE the ability to train more potential performers than ever before through a comprehensive program including in-ring training, physical preparedness and character development. The center is the training ground for talent that includes former professional and collegiate athletes, Olympians and entertainers, and offers a best-in-class sports medicine program creating a central location for all WWE talent to receive the best care both in and out of the ring.

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE:WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) 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, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

SOURCE: WWE