Led by an exceptional presence in Europe, Australia and Asia, WWE consumer products have exploded globally. The impetus behind much of WWE’s consumer product success has been the growing sales and distribution of WWE branded toys, video games, DVDs and regional international licensed product deals.
WWE action figures have consistently been ranked among the top three selling action figure brands in major retailers worldwide. In the U.K., WWE is now the fastest growing toy brand according to monthly NPD data. In Australia, WWE is the No.1 selling brand in year-to-date sales in the Action Figure category, up more than 150 percent in units and sales.
WWE and THQ released “SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2007” in November 2006 and more than 4 million units have been sold globally across all platforms to date. Available on PlayStation 2, PSP, and the Xbox 360, the game won “Best Fighting Game” for 1 Up.com, as well as “Fighting Game of the Year” and subsequently “Game of the Year” by Official Xbox Magazine. It also won “Best Sports Game” in the Austrian Games Choice Awards.
Replicating success among toys and video games, DVDs have continued to do well in markets outside North America. Recently the one millionth DVD was sold in Australia, where WWE also currently holds the No.1 market share position in the sports DVD category, ahead of Rugby -- Australia’s most watched sport. In Japan, the first quarter of 2007 saw the long-awaited release of “WrestleMania®: the Complete Anthology” box set, the first from Toho Corporation, creator of the original Godzilla phenomenon and new distributor for J Sports. Also during the first quarter, WWE home video distribution expanded into several new key markets, including France and Portugal.
“While WWE continues to grow in North America, our efforts to expand into overseas markets have met with great success,” said Donna Goldsmith, Executive Vice President, Consumer Products. “Our Superstars, and products that feature their likeness, are becoming as popular in international retail markets as they have been in North America.”
WWE’s international success has been built off a consistently strong presence in North America. With the addition of new apparel licensees Hybrid Tees and Fifth Sun, WWE has recently developed a new, retail tiered apparel program with positive early results. The new licensees placed WWE licensed apparel into major retailers including JC Penney, Kohl’s, Target, Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, and others.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (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 World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. 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 the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; 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 to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.
