WWE sent out the following:
WWE® Signs TV Deal with D-Smart in Turkey
WWE (NYSE:WWE) and D-Smart today announced a two-year television distribution deal that brings WWE’s weekly flagship television programs WWE Raw® and WWE SmackDown® to D-Smart, a leading digital broadcasting platform in Turkey. Under this new agreement, the one-hour international versions of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown will be available every Saturday night at 11 p.m. (SmackDown) and 12 a.m. (Raw) on D-Smart channel 77, Smart Spor. WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown combine an exciting mix of in-ring action and compelling storylines featuring WWE Superstars and Divas including: John Cena™, Randy Orton™, CM Punk™, Alberto Del Rio™, Sheamus™, Layla™ and many more. In the United States, WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown are the first and second longest running weekly episodic programs and are consistently among the most-watched, regularly scheduled entertainment programs on cable television.
“We’re thrilled to announce this new partnership with D-Smart which is representative of WWE’s plans in the region to expand the brand,” said Ed Wells, SVP & Managing Director, WWE International. “It’s show time in Turkey for WWE fans,” said Ali Güven, D-Smart CEO. “The vivid action of WWE has huge appeal with fans in Turkey and will add more value to D-Smart’s rich array of content.”
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 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 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/.
About D-Smart
Operating under Dogan TV Holding Turkey umbrella since 2007; D-Smart is a leading digital broadcasting platform in Turkey. Consistently developing its service packages in line with market dynamics, D-Smart provides 27 HD-broadcast channels and platform-specific thematic networks, in addition to all national public networks, hundreds of local and international channels that are broadcasted via the Türksat satellite, as well as digital content, to over 1.7 million D-Smart users. D-Smart continues to grow with investments towards the convergence of Internet and digital broadcasting technologies. In this regard, it has completed is union with smile, a Dogan Telekom ADSL service provider with a solid infrastructure and a purpose of being the best alternative for quality as an A-Type service provider license holder. This move and its synergy enable consumers to acquire TV and Internet services from a single provider; and presents a smart way to reach information and entertainment content at favorable prices. D-Smart brings a different scenery to digital platform services with its wide-spectrum, extensive broadcast services and attractive internet offerings; while driving the industry’s development with continuous investments on HD and 3D channels. Furthermore, D-Smart started to broadcast the Champions League games over a separate channel for the first time, via D-Smart HD and D-Smart HD Plus channels in 2012.
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 news 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 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 and any new business initiative which we may undertake; 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.
