WWE(R) SmackDown(R) Vs. Raw(R) 2008 Reaches "Platinum Hits" Sales Milestone for the Xbox 360(R) Video Game and Entertainment System from Microsoft
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct 23, 2008- THQ Inc.
THQ Inc
JAKK today announced that WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 has achieved "Platinum Hits" status for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The game originally launched in November 2007 and is now available for the suggested retail price of $19.99.
"Attaining 'Platinum Hits' for the Xbox 360 demonstrates the long-standing dedication of our fans to this tremendous franchise," said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, publishing, THQ. "This accolade comes at an opportune time as we march toward the much-anticipated North American release of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 across all major gaming platforms, including mobile devices, on November 9."
"We are delighted the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw videogame franchise has reached 'Platinum Hits' status for its second consecutive year on Xbox 360," said Nelo Lucich, senior vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 embodies a host of fan favorite features, including Superstar Fighting Styles and a new Struggle Submission System, which further define the virtual WWE experience."
About WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 for Xbox 360 lets players take the fight into their own hands with the debut of eight Superstar Fighting Styles. Each fighting style has its own unique strategy with exclusive moves and abilities. A brand-new Struggle Submission System gives players intuitive and natural control over their WWE Superstars using the analog sticks. Realism and strategy are at the forefront, as players can now control the amount of pressure they apply. WWE 24/7 Mode, which combines the popular Season and General Manager modes, embraces the intensity of the Superstar lifestyle. Multiple character development options, stat tracking and career goals guide players toward the ultimate achievement of becoming a WWE Legend. In addition, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 includes numerous fan-requested updates, including new rosters, more environmental hotspots, improved out-of-ring action and much more.
More information about WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 can be found at www.smackdownvsraw.com and www.thq.com.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
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 THQ Inc.
THQ is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKK is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature some of the most popular children's toy licenses in the world. JAKKS' diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories, sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific(R), Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Creative Designs International(TM), Road Champs(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R), Color Workshop(R), JAKKS Pets(TM), EyeClops(R), Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM), Kids Only(R) and Tollytots(R). JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Graco and Cabbage Patch Kids. JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit www.jakks.com.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 and the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 video games, and are based upon management's current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2008, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
This press release may contain forward--looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with integrating acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
THQ
Jaime Jensen, Media Relations
818-871-5111
jaime.jensen@thq.com
or
Julie MacMedan, Investor Relations
818-871-5125
investor@thq.com
or
JAKKS Pacific
Genna Rosenberg, Media Relations
310-455-6235
gennar@jakks.net
or
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Kevin Hennessy
203-352-8657
kevin.hennessy@wwecorp.com
Media Man Australia Profiles
WWE
THQ
Smackdown VS Raw
Games
Video Games
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
WWE RAW'S 800TH EPISODE CELEBRATION ONLY ON THE BOX, SKY DIGITAL CHANNEL 5
WWE RAW’S 800TH EPISODE CELEBRATION
On Friday 7th November 8.30pm, the BOX, SKY Digital Channel 5, will broadcast a special three hour episode of WWE RAW to celebrate RAW’s 800th episode milestone.
The special is set to feature WWE Superstars and Divas from RAW, SmackDown and ECW and will originate from the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
RAW is seen in over 130 countries, including New Zealand. With its ever changing blend of humor, action and drama, WWE RAW continues to appeal to a variety of demographics generation after generation around the world.
WWE RAW Television Highlights:
· The first episode was taped at the Manhattan Center in New York City, USA.
· Monday Night RAW in the United States has aired more original episodes than some of the most popular television series of all time, including Gunsmoke (633), Lassie (588), Bonanza (430), The Simpsons (420 plus), Dallas (357), ER (309 plus),Cheers (275) and Seinfeld (180).
· 34% of RAW’s viewers are female and RAW is a top 5 ad-supported cable program among Females 12-34 in the US.
· Monday Night RAW is a global phenomenon that has aired original episodes from all over the world including Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy and Iraq.
· RAW is the birthplace of such household names as The Rock®, Stone Cold Steve Austin™, Triple H®, John Cena®, Undertaker®, Shawn Michaels® and Stacy Keibler.
· A pop culture phenomenon, RAW has been a destination for actors, athletes and musicians not only to promote projects but to also enjoy ringside excitement as fans.
· The November 3 airing in the United States will actually be the 806th original episode of Monday Night RAW.
· RAW is the longest running original programming in the United States.
WWE RAW’S 800TH EPISODE CELEBRATION, Friday 7 November, 8.30pm
ONLY on the BOX, SKY Digital Channel 5
Media Man Australia Profiles
WWE
Sky TV
WWE RAW’S 800TH EPISODE CELEBRATION
On Friday 7th November 8.30pm, the BOX, SKY Digital Channel 5, will broadcast a special three hour episode of WWE RAW to celebrate RAW’s 800th episode milestone.
The special is set to feature WWE Superstars and Divas from RAW, SmackDown and ECW and will originate from the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
RAW is seen in over 130 countries, including New Zealand. With its ever changing blend of humor, action and drama, WWE RAW continues to appeal to a variety of demographics generation after generation around the world.
WWE RAW Television Highlights:
· The first episode was taped at the Manhattan Center in New York City, USA.
· Monday Night RAW in the United States has aired more original episodes than some of the most popular television series of all time, including Gunsmoke (633), Lassie (588), Bonanza (430), The Simpsons (420 plus), Dallas (357), ER (309 plus),Cheers (275) and Seinfeld (180).
· 34% of RAW’s viewers are female and RAW is a top 5 ad-supported cable program among Females 12-34 in the US.
· Monday Night RAW is a global phenomenon that has aired original episodes from all over the world including Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy and Iraq.
· RAW is the birthplace of such household names as The Rock®, Stone Cold Steve Austin™, Triple H®, John Cena®, Undertaker®, Shawn Michaels® and Stacy Keibler.
· A pop culture phenomenon, RAW has been a destination for actors, athletes and musicians not only to promote projects but to also enjoy ringside excitement as fans.
· The November 3 airing in the United States will actually be the 806th original episode of Monday Night RAW.
· RAW is the longest running original programming in the United States.
WWE RAW’S 800TH EPISODE CELEBRATION, Friday 7 November, 8.30pm
ONLY on the BOX, SKY Digital Channel 5
Media Man Australia Profiles
WWE
Sky TV
Monday, October 13, 2008
Wrestling the Details, By Bobbi Dempsey - The New York Times - 11th October 2008
I am an only child and grew up in a small town in North Carolina. I was the only girl on the town basketball team who could do a jump shot. When I was 13, I met a handsome guy in church. His name was Vince McMahon and he was 16. We were married soon after I graduated from high school, and I joined him at East Carolina University.
I didn’t know anything about professional wrestling. Vince’s father founded the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in Washington. After college, Vince joined Capitol Wrestling as a television announcer and live-event promoter.
Meanwhile, I had our first child, Shane, and worked as a paralegal at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington. I learned about intellectual property rights, contract negotiations and general business. We then lived in West Hartford, Conn., where Vince continued his duties for Capitol Wrestling. My job was scheduling, coordination, contracts and record-keeping. I handled operations and took care of Shane and his sister, Stephanie, while Vince traveled all over the Northeast expanding the business. Thus began a business partnership that has grown over the years.
Upon hearing about a small arena that was for sale on Cape Cod, we moved to Massachusetts. I learned the live-event business from the arena owner/manager perspective. I negotiated contracts with Ticketmaster, while selling tickets in our box office and interacting directly with consumers.
When we started, nobody in the wrestling live-event business sold souvenir merchandise. We embarked on a plan to sell merchandise, beginning with T-shirts. Four years later, we moved to Greenwich, Conn., and began focusing on building the company we have today, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
In the beginning, revenue from live events and live-event merchandise was the basis of our business. Then, with WrestleMania in 1985, we ventured into the pay-per-view industry followed by licensing of consumer products. Today, we are a global business.
Our business is about content, and is driven by our creative development of our intellectual property, which happens to be the characters and the talented people who bring them to life. There is always going to be the next platform and the next technology to distribute that content. But if the content isn’t compelling, the new technology won’t hold or grow our consumer base.
Our fans are very passionate, especially when it comes to their favorite wrestlers. After hearing just the first note of the Undertaker’s entrance music, for example, the audience in an arena will immediately go wild.
The fans also give you clear feedback by their reactions while the match is in progress. Boos aren’t necessarily bad, because that can mean the crowd is reacting strongly to a “heel” — what we call a bad guy — which tells us we’ve succeeded in creating a compelling character.
Technology keeps you on your toes. We have spectators e-mailing photos during the show, and they’re all over the Internet before the show is even over. It’s instant distribution on a global basis. One of our performers can be out just shopping for sneakers, and all of a sudden it’s a viral video on YouTube.
In the early years, I was content to be in the business background. I once went to a meeting accompanied by our chief marketing officer, a man. The person with whom we were meeting knew only that one of us was the C.E.O. and the other was the marketing person. Of course, they assumed I was the marketing person. However, when our company went public, my role changed and I started to have more of a public persona. Executive confusion doesn’t happen anymore.
My title has evolved to match my responsibilities. I’m now the C.E.O. But the title I cherish the most is “Gamma Gamma,” bestowed upon me by our first grandchild.
As told to Bobbi Dempsey.
(Credit: The New York Times)
Media Man Australia Profiles
World Wrestling Entertainment
I am an only child and grew up in a small town in North Carolina. I was the only girl on the town basketball team who could do a jump shot. When I was 13, I met a handsome guy in church. His name was Vince McMahon and he was 16. We were married soon after I graduated from high school, and I joined him at East Carolina University.
I didn’t know anything about professional wrestling. Vince’s father founded the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in Washington. After college, Vince joined Capitol Wrestling as a television announcer and live-event promoter.
Meanwhile, I had our first child, Shane, and worked as a paralegal at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington. I learned about intellectual property rights, contract negotiations and general business. We then lived in West Hartford, Conn., where Vince continued his duties for Capitol Wrestling. My job was scheduling, coordination, contracts and record-keeping. I handled operations and took care of Shane and his sister, Stephanie, while Vince traveled all over the Northeast expanding the business. Thus began a business partnership that has grown over the years.
Upon hearing about a small arena that was for sale on Cape Cod, we moved to Massachusetts. I learned the live-event business from the arena owner/manager perspective. I negotiated contracts with Ticketmaster, while selling tickets in our box office and interacting directly with consumers.
When we started, nobody in the wrestling live-event business sold souvenir merchandise. We embarked on a plan to sell merchandise, beginning with T-shirts. Four years later, we moved to Greenwich, Conn., and began focusing on building the company we have today, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
In the beginning, revenue from live events and live-event merchandise was the basis of our business. Then, with WrestleMania in 1985, we ventured into the pay-per-view industry followed by licensing of consumer products. Today, we are a global business.
Our business is about content, and is driven by our creative development of our intellectual property, which happens to be the characters and the talented people who bring them to life. There is always going to be the next platform and the next technology to distribute that content. But if the content isn’t compelling, the new technology won’t hold or grow our consumer base.
Our fans are very passionate, especially when it comes to their favorite wrestlers. After hearing just the first note of the Undertaker’s entrance music, for example, the audience in an arena will immediately go wild.
The fans also give you clear feedback by their reactions while the match is in progress. Boos aren’t necessarily bad, because that can mean the crowd is reacting strongly to a “heel” — what we call a bad guy — which tells us we’ve succeeded in creating a compelling character.
Technology keeps you on your toes. We have spectators e-mailing photos during the show, and they’re all over the Internet before the show is even over. It’s instant distribution on a global basis. One of our performers can be out just shopping for sneakers, and all of a sudden it’s a viral video on YouTube.
In the early years, I was content to be in the business background. I once went to a meeting accompanied by our chief marketing officer, a man. The person with whom we were meeting knew only that one of us was the C.E.O. and the other was the marketing person. Of course, they assumed I was the marketing person. However, when our company went public, my role changed and I started to have more of a public persona. Executive confusion doesn’t happen anymore.
My title has evolved to match my responsibilities. I’m now the C.E.O. But the title I cherish the most is “Gamma Gamma,” bestowed upon me by our first grandchild.
As told to Bobbi Dempsey.
(Credit: The New York Times)
Media Man Australia Profiles
World Wrestling Entertainment
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wrestling's bottom line is no soap opera, von Brooke Masters - The Financial Times - 9th October 2008
World Wrestling Entertainment is spreading the American wrestling phenomenon abroad and raking in international revenue, in one of various attempts to make the sport appeal to a wider audience.
For investors unfamiliar with professional wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment can be a bit hard to take seriously. Its central product involves near-naked men hitting each other with chairs in a carefully choreographed cross between sport and soap opera. Recently, it staged a purported "tragic accident" involving lighting equipment and Vince McMahon, the company chairman, as a plot point on its RAW weekly television show.
But that's wrestling. Having a showman in charge is as much a part of the wrestling ethos as a Texan oil company president wearing cowboy boots and flying his own planes, or a Wall Street magnate hob-nobbing with society matrons and amassing an art collection that rivals that of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Hokey image not withstanding, WWE is a $1.1bn company that saw $485m revenue last year from TV broadcast rights, live shows, consumer products and internet sales. It is a quintessentially American product and the vast majority of its audience remains in the US.
But Mr McMahon's wife, Linda, the company chief executive, makes no bones about her efforts to go global. WWE shows are broadcast in 130 countries and more than 20 languages. The company recently opened offices in Sydney, São Paulo, Tokyo and Shanghai, to bring its total of overseas outposts to six.
So far, the company has found that its products translate well for an international audience. "While it is based in America and there are a lot of American stars, the themes are worldwide: sibling rivalry, jealousy. We've had no pushback on the fact it was an American product," Mrs McMahon told the Financial Times.
International revenue has nearly trebled since 2002, from $45m to $119m last year and now accounts for 25 per cent of turnover. Mrs McMahon hopes to increase overseas revenue to between $180m and $200m by 2011.
"The company has come a long way from being a northeastern [US] events group. We've made it a global brand. We are a content company. We produce it, we create it, we own it and we distribute it."
Business development
WWE is descended from Mr McMahon's father's company, Capitol Wrestling Corporation and Titan Sports, the live event promotion company founded by Mr and Mrs McMahon in 1979.
While professional wrestling is usually considered a young man's product, WWE is making efforts to reach out to other demographic sectors. The company recently tweaked the scripts on Raw so that it could earn a TV-PG (parental guidance) rating rather than a TV-14 (parents strongly cautioned) in the US. Roughly one-third of the US television viewers are female.
WWE's combination of consumer, TV and live products mean it has few clear peers. It currently trades on 19-times forward earnings, compared with an average of 15 for similar sized travel and leisure companies, according to Bloomberg. Six of the 10 analysts who cover the stock rate it a buy, and four say it is a hold. There are no current sell recommendations.
The company has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1999, but the McMahon family controls about two-thirds of the shares. Its share price has outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 rating by nearly 20 per cent since the beginning of the year.
(Credit: The Financial Times)
Media Man Australia Profiles
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment is spreading the American wrestling phenomenon abroad and raking in international revenue, in one of various attempts to make the sport appeal to a wider audience.
For investors unfamiliar with professional wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment can be a bit hard to take seriously. Its central product involves near-naked men hitting each other with chairs in a carefully choreographed cross between sport and soap opera. Recently, it staged a purported "tragic accident" involving lighting equipment and Vince McMahon, the company chairman, as a plot point on its RAW weekly television show.
But that's wrestling. Having a showman in charge is as much a part of the wrestling ethos as a Texan oil company president wearing cowboy boots and flying his own planes, or a Wall Street magnate hob-nobbing with society matrons and amassing an art collection that rivals that of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Hokey image not withstanding, WWE is a $1.1bn company that saw $485m revenue last year from TV broadcast rights, live shows, consumer products and internet sales. It is a quintessentially American product and the vast majority of its audience remains in the US.
But Mr McMahon's wife, Linda, the company chief executive, makes no bones about her efforts to go global. WWE shows are broadcast in 130 countries and more than 20 languages. The company recently opened offices in Sydney, São Paulo, Tokyo and Shanghai, to bring its total of overseas outposts to six.
So far, the company has found that its products translate well for an international audience. "While it is based in America and there are a lot of American stars, the themes are worldwide: sibling rivalry, jealousy. We've had no pushback on the fact it was an American product," Mrs McMahon told the Financial Times.
International revenue has nearly trebled since 2002, from $45m to $119m last year and now accounts for 25 per cent of turnover. Mrs McMahon hopes to increase overseas revenue to between $180m and $200m by 2011.
"The company has come a long way from being a northeastern [US] events group. We've made it a global brand. We are a content company. We produce it, we create it, we own it and we distribute it."
Business development
WWE is descended from Mr McMahon's father's company, Capitol Wrestling Corporation and Titan Sports, the live event promotion company founded by Mr and Mrs McMahon in 1979.
While professional wrestling is usually considered a young man's product, WWE is making efforts to reach out to other demographic sectors. The company recently tweaked the scripts on Raw so that it could earn a TV-PG (parental guidance) rating rather than a TV-14 (parents strongly cautioned) in the US. Roughly one-third of the US television viewers are female.
WWE's combination of consumer, TV and live products mean it has few clear peers. It currently trades on 19-times forward earnings, compared with an average of 15 for similar sized travel and leisure companies, according to Bloomberg. Six of the 10 analysts who cover the stock rate it a buy, and four say it is a hold. There are no current sell recommendations.
The company has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1999, but the McMahon family controls about two-thirds of the shares. Its share price has outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 rating by nearly 20 per cent since the beginning of the year.
(Credit: The Financial Times)
Media Man Australia Profiles
WWE
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Extreme Strip Poker comes to ECW, by Craig Tello - 22nd September 2006
WWE.com has learned that Extreme Strip Poker starring all WWE Divas and ECW Vixens will take place on a can't-miss edition of ECW on Sci Fi on Tuesday.
For the first time ever, ECW Vixens and RAW and SmackDown Divas alike will compete to keep their clothes - and this time, the sexiest women on television are at the mercy of the deck.
From full-house to royal flush, one thing is for sure, no matter which femme fatale gets dealt the best hand, the real winners will be ECW on Sci Fi viewers.
Which Diva or Vixen will bring her poker face to ECW in less than three weeks? How will the Vixens and Divas prepare for this provocative game of chance? Tune in to ECW on Sci Fi this week, as well as RAW and SmackDown to find out. And, don't miss the must-see edition of ECW on Sci Fi.
Media Man Australia Profiles
ECW
Poker
Strip Poker
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
WWE.com has learned that Extreme Strip Poker starring all WWE Divas and ECW Vixens will take place on a can't-miss edition of ECW on Sci Fi on Tuesday.
For the first time ever, ECW Vixens and RAW and SmackDown Divas alike will compete to keep their clothes - and this time, the sexiest women on television are at the mercy of the deck.
From full-house to royal flush, one thing is for sure, no matter which femme fatale gets dealt the best hand, the real winners will be ECW on Sci Fi viewers.
Which Diva or Vixen will bring her poker face to ECW in less than three weeks? How will the Vixens and Divas prepare for this provocative game of chance? Tune in to ECW on Sci Fi this week, as well as RAW and SmackDown to find out. And, don't miss the must-see edition of ECW on Sci Fi.
Media Man Australia Profiles
ECW
Poker
Strip Poker
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
Saturday, October 04, 2008
MyNetworkTV Presents a One-Two WWE® Punch
All-Star Kick-Off of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown®” & “WWE WrestleMania® – The World Television Premiere”
September 29, 2008
NEW YORK, N.Y., September 29, 2008 – MyNetworkTV presents a one-two WWE punch beginning on October 2nd at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) with “WrestleMania – The World Television Premiere” leading up to the October 3rd all-star network premiere event of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) announced Greg Meidel, president of MyNetworkTV.
In making the announcement, Meidel stated, “WWE – THE sports entertainment powerhouse is launching on MyNetworkTV in big-way – complete with the biggest Superstars, historic broadcast television matches, and back-to-back nights of powerful programming.”
The MyNetworkTV debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” begins with a Superstar-studded night. For the first time ever on broadcast television, it will be a night of Champion vs. Champion including a “Triple Threat Match” between WWE Champion Triple H®, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho® and ECW® Champion Matt Hardy™.
In addition to the “Triple Threat Match” the following matches, comprised of WWE Superstars from all three WWE television brands (SmackDown, RAW®, ECW) are scheduled for the premiere episode of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown:”
* Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Rey Mysterio®, Batista®, Jeff Hardy™ and Finlay™ vs. Kane®, MVP™, JBL™ and The Brian Kendrick™
* WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella™ vs. WWE United States Champion Shelton Benjamin®
* WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix™ vs. WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool™
* World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes™ & Ted DiBiase™ will square off with the newly-crowned WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito™ & Primo™
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon added, “The WWE and MyNet will become the tag team champions of Friday night television.”
In anticipation of the debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown,” MyNetworkTV will present “WrestleMania - The World Television Premiere” the night prior to launch. Viewers can re-live the action and excitement from WrestleMania XXIV. Now, for the first time ever, MyNetwork TV and WWE invite you to enjoy that same exhilaration on broadcast television in an innovative presentation combining the high impact action of the WWE scored to music from some of the industry’s biggest stars including U2, Metallica, Three Doors Down, Three 6 Mafia, and Kid Rock.
About MyNetworkTV®
MyNetworkTV is a primetime general entertainment broadcast television network. Reaching over 97% of the country and targeted to Adults 18-49, MyNetworkTV provides its affiliates 12 hours of diverse programming Monday through Saturday, including “Celebrity Exposé,” Langley Productions’ “Jail” and “Street Patrol” and debuting in October 2008, “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed,” “The Tony Rock Project” and “WWE Friday Night SmackDown®.” For more information, please visit www.mynetworktv.com.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide.
PRESS CONTACTS:
MyNetworkTV Media Contact: Craig Radow 310-369-3293 / Jessica Moss 212-301-3817
WWE Media Contact: Jennifer McIntosh 203-359-5131
Media Man Australia Profiles
MyNetworkTV
WWE
All-Star Kick-Off of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown®” & “WWE WrestleMania® – The World Television Premiere”
September 29, 2008
NEW YORK, N.Y., September 29, 2008 – MyNetworkTV presents a one-two WWE punch beginning on October 2nd at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) with “WrestleMania – The World Television Premiere” leading up to the October 3rd all-star network premiere event of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) announced Greg Meidel, president of MyNetworkTV.
In making the announcement, Meidel stated, “WWE – THE sports entertainment powerhouse is launching on MyNetworkTV in big-way – complete with the biggest Superstars, historic broadcast television matches, and back-to-back nights of powerful programming.”
The MyNetworkTV debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” begins with a Superstar-studded night. For the first time ever on broadcast television, it will be a night of Champion vs. Champion including a “Triple Threat Match” between WWE Champion Triple H®, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho® and ECW® Champion Matt Hardy™.
In addition to the “Triple Threat Match” the following matches, comprised of WWE Superstars from all three WWE television brands (SmackDown, RAW®, ECW) are scheduled for the premiere episode of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown:”
* Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Rey Mysterio®, Batista®, Jeff Hardy™ and Finlay™ vs. Kane®, MVP™, JBL™ and The Brian Kendrick™
* WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella™ vs. WWE United States Champion Shelton Benjamin®
* WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix™ vs. WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool™
* World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes™ & Ted DiBiase™ will square off with the newly-crowned WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito™ & Primo™
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon added, “The WWE and MyNet will become the tag team champions of Friday night television.”
In anticipation of the debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown,” MyNetworkTV will present “WrestleMania - The World Television Premiere” the night prior to launch. Viewers can re-live the action and excitement from WrestleMania XXIV. Now, for the first time ever, MyNetwork TV and WWE invite you to enjoy that same exhilaration on broadcast television in an innovative presentation combining the high impact action of the WWE scored to music from some of the industry’s biggest stars including U2, Metallica, Three Doors Down, Three 6 Mafia, and Kid Rock.
About MyNetworkTV®
MyNetworkTV is a primetime general entertainment broadcast television network. Reaching over 97% of the country and targeted to Adults 18-49, MyNetworkTV provides its affiliates 12 hours of diverse programming Monday through Saturday, including “Celebrity Exposé,” Langley Productions’ “Jail” and “Street Patrol” and debuting in October 2008, “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed,” “The Tony Rock Project” and “WWE Friday Night SmackDown®.” For more information, please visit www.mynetworktv.com.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide.
PRESS CONTACTS:
MyNetworkTV Media Contact: Craig Radow 310-369-3293 / Jessica Moss 212-301-3817
WWE Media Contact: Jennifer McIntosh 203-359-5131
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