WWE Ramps Up Online Offerings

STAMFORD, November 19:
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has enhanced its new-media applications
with the launch of a social-networking site, WWE UNIVERSE, and an improved
video player on its own website.

WWE UNIVERSE, located at
fans.wwe.com, provides an opportunity for WWE fans to interact with each other
as well as with the Superstars. Live blogs will feature interactive commentary
during WWE programming, special events and pay-per-view broadcasts. In addition
to message boards, there is also a live chat feature to connect with other
members of the WWE Universe.

"WWE
Universe is the first social-networking site specifically designed and
developed for the WWE online community," said Brian Kalinowski, the
general manager of digital media for WWE. "We are very excited to provide
an online destination that WWE fans can call home."

The
new video player on the WWE website offers increased opportunities for
sponsorship, product integration and branded entertainment content. WWE.com
currently features an online video advertising channel that houses a roster of
more than 1,500 web-exclusive videos, including interviews with Superstars,
weekly brand "Quick Cut" recaps, exclusive news and the latest
editions of video originals such as The
Dirt Sheet, Santino's Casa and Word Up. Since the launch of the new
player, video viewing has increased 77 percent on the site and video ad impressions
are up 95 percent.

"This
new video player launches the next generation of wwe.com," said Joe
DelGrosso, WWE's senior VP of digital and sponsorship sales. "Our loyal audience will enjoy a stadium-like
experience, sitting in the comfort of their own homes, viewing an unprecedented
amount of video from our live events and web-exclusive programming. Advertisers will get top billing through pre-roll ads,
premium adverting real estate, and creative custom solutions to help them
achieve their marketing objectives."

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski