(WWE) World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

[HRH The KING 0]

NEW YORK, NY, and STAMFORD, Conn., April 4, 2005 - World Wrestling Entertainment and NBC Universal have inked a new, three-year agreement that will return WWE cable programming, including ratings titan Monday Night RAW, to USA Network beginning in October 2005, it was announced today by Linda McMahon, WWE CEO, and Bonnie Hammer, president, USA Network and SCI FI Channel. Raw, a cable mainstay for more than 12 years, continues to be the most watched regularly scheduled year-round program on ad-supported cable television.

 

The agreement is a homecoming of sorts for WWE, which introduced Monday Night Raw on USA on January 11, 1993. The prime time cable series flourished for seven years, establishing cable ratings records, before moving to Spike TV on September 25, 2000.

 

"I’m thrilled to be back in business again with Vince and Linda McMahon," said Hammer.  "I led the USA team that helped grow Raw into a true pop phenomenon, and it’s great to welcome it home."

 

In addition to Monday Night Raw, USA will air a one-hour weekend Raw-branded program, and NBCU's Telemundo will air Spanish-language versions of Raw. NBC will also air at least two yearly, 90-minute Saturday late night Raw specials.

 

"This broad and diverse distribution will provide WWE excellent platforms from which to reach our existing fans as well as broaden our audience," said McMahon. "We're very happy to be returning to USA Network, where we experienced some of our greatest successes, and to NBC, where we had tremendous success with our series of late-night specials, Saturday Night Main Event, in the 1980s."

 

"The WWE's return to USA Network and our arrangement with the other NBC Universal properties, is indicative of how we as a company can offer unique cross-networking opportunities," added Jeff Gaspin, president NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cross-Network Strategy.  "RAW will put USA and NBC Universal Cable into an incredibly competitive position and I couldn't be happier about this relationship."

 

:P B) B)

[Sam The Smuggler 1]

I forgot. Also in attendance at the Hall of Fame ceremony was Gail Kim. Apparently she is engaged to one of the Bashams. There goes the lesbo theory..........

315529[/snapback]

 

 

Who Thought She Was A Lesbo? :P

[Itchygomba69 0]

STONE COLD STONE COLD STONE COLD STONE COLD

 

YES YES YES YES YES YES

 

IM MARKING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Itchygomba69 0]

I hate WWE on USA the get postponed for a F'N Dog Show

[HRH The KING 0]

Well, at least they'll get their specials on NBC.

 

I think it would be the best idea for WWE Smackdown to move to NBC too. They should pursue that. Although if they do, the brand split would have to be ended to make certain the biggest stars are on the show each week.

 

It would be a massive improvement over UPN. No doubt about that.

 

Disappointing RAW tonight as they usually are after major PPV's since everyone is selling their injuries and we see a lot of "Wrestlemania Rematches".

 

I can honestly say I don't want to see another HHH/Batista match.

 

I was hoping for a Draft Lottery tonight, but I guess that's not happening this year. Shame actually, because the roster needs a reshuffle.

[Itchygomba69 0]

the worst after PPV Raw was the Night the BigShow Surprised everyone replaced Austin after he was hit by a car and won the WWF championship @ Survivor Series, I was at that Raw at the Mellon arena, so Disappointed, Note to self never go to a live event the week after one of the big 4 PPV's

[Itchygomba69 0]

Today in History

(1992) Randy Savage defeats Ric Flair for the WWF Title & Bret Hart defeats Roddy Piper for WWF IC Title at WrestleMania 8

[Itchygomba69 0]

Even with competition from the NCAA basketball finals, last night's Raw scored a 4.3 rating. This is WWE's best RAW rating this year.

[HRH The KING 0]

4.3 is a very good rating for a cable show running against a sporting event.

 

:biggrin:

[Itchygomba69 0]

some stuff I found on the web today

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To go into more detail regarding the press release that was issued yesterday morning about WWE's new deal with the USA Network (Click Here if you haven't read it already), here are some news and notes that will clarify a few things:

 

- RAW will begin airing on the USA Network in October (which is believed to be the show on October 3rd, but not officially confirmed). It will also start airing on Telemundo as well.

 

- WWE will be getting two 90 minute NBC specials in the Saturday Night Live time slot (as they did in the 80s). There will also be one yearly 60 minute special on the USA Network.

 

- It appears at this point that Velocity will be canceled along with Experience as the new contract only calls for one weekend show instead of three. It will no doubt be a RAW branded show so it will either be called Sunday Nigth Heat or a new renamed show.

 

- WWE will be receiving rights and fees for their programming as the USA Network will be selling all advertising, keeping all revenue from the sales. This means WWE will no longer sell advertising.

 

- NBC Universal has reportedly committed $8 million to a mult-platform ad campaign to help promote that launch of the programs on the USA Network in September.

 

- As noted earlier, WWE will remain on Spike TV through the end of September and start on USA in October.

 

- The only true down side of the new deal is that, as noted above, WWE will retain no advertising and will see an estimated loss of income at $37 million.

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TNA and Spike are in Negotations for WWE to take the Raw Spots on Monday and for a new IFC show to take over where Sunday Night heat was

[HRH The KING 0]

WWE's advertising revenue is relatively small anyway.

 

They have had difficulty with advertisers because of the content of the show which can be too risque for certain companies. Other, more reasonable companies take advantage of the typical demographic group who watch WWE.

 

WWE makes most of it's revenue through PPV buys, ticket sales and merchandising.

[Itchygomba69 0]

I would like to see TNA deal to go through and some competion will only help Improve the Products, Vince does his best work when he is COmpeting against someone

[HRH The KING 0]

I agree.

 

A second major wrestling company needs to emerge quickly.

[Itchygomba69 0]

I miss Nitro

 

Even when it was getting bad some matches (crusierWeights) were better then stuff going on in the WWF (Mae Youg Pregnant with Mark Henry's hand....What)

[HRH The KING 0]

From 1996-1998 WCW Monday Nitro was superb.

 

Totally unmissable.

[Itchygomba69 0]

Whos gonna jump this week what is Sting Gonna do, Wow those were the days

[HRH The KING 0]

I remember them well.

 

The Second Golden Age Of Wrestling.

 

Glory days. :biggrin:

[Kor37 9]

How much you wanna bet that Edge uses his contract to wrestle Batista the second after Batista has just finished some brutal match?

[Kor37 9]

I really marked out for Austin on RAW this week. Great performance. He really is missed in the WWE.

[HRH The KING 0]

How much you wanna bet that Edge uses his contract to wrestle Batista the second after Batista has just finished some brutal match? 

 

Yes, that would be diabolical and evil. But I think SummerSlam would probably be the logical choice for a match.

 

 

I really marked out for Austin on RAW this week. Great performance. He really is missed in the WWE.

 

I don't really like Austin. Nothing he does is fresh or adds anything to the company and I'll never forgive him for inflicting that horrible and annoying "WHAT" on the wrestling world.

[Kor37 9]

WHAT?

[HRH The KING 0]

:biggrin:

[Itchygomba69 0]

you must hate my sig

 

and my Icon

 

What

[Itchygomba69 0]

Today in History

(1997) Diamond Dallas Page defeated Randy Savage in a No DQ Match at WCW Spring Stampede.

[HRH The KING 0]

I'll tell you what I hate.

 

The fact that Austin wears those enormous knee braces when all he does is talk, flip the finger, and drink beer.

 

He looks ridiculous wearing them. :biggrin:

[Kor37 9]

He needs those knee braces for when he climbs in the back of his pick-up truck to unload his coolers of beer.....lol

[Itchygomba69 0]

I can understand that, I need a Backbrace for my beer how much i got through

 

anyway

 

Today in History

(2003) Kevin Nash returns to WWE & starts a feud with Triple H that lasts for three months.

[Itchygomba69 0]

Rhyno has been fired from the WWE due to an embarassing situation with him and his wife at a Post-Wrestlemania party, good, he was a waste IMO

[HRH The KING 0]

Rhyno should be called "Hippo" because of all the weight he's put on.

[Kor37 9]

I read that story. Apparently, Rhyno got into a fight with his wife in the lobby of the hotel where the post-Wrestlemania party was being held. He smashed a huge vase in the lobby during the arguement. WWE officials had to escort him back to the hotel where the wrestlers were staying at. Rhyno has been on Vince's bad side for awhile now. This was just the excuse Vince was looking for to get rid of him.