World Wrestling Entertainment® is working with Microsoft Corp. to develop a new, cutting edge interactive video experience at WWE.com based on the Microsoft Silverlight cross-browser, cross-platform interactive plug-in. WWE will make this interactive video player the primary front-end tool for delivering all streaming video, as well as providing a rich and compelling “web 2.0” experience to the WWE fan nation. WWE.com currently attracts more than 20 million unique visitors and streams more than 40 million videos each month.
“We are very excited that WWE.com will be utilizing Microsoft Silverlight to deliver the type of interactive, media-intensive and high-quality experiences that its dedicated and fervent fan base demands,” said Brian Goldfarb, group product manager in the UX Platform and Tools team at Microsoft. “The support of an established brand such as WWE is proof that Silverlight is fast becoming a new standard in delivering media online.”
In September, Microsoft will publicly release Silverlight 1.0, a web plug-in that allows for the development of world class, interactive and cutting edge user experiences. With Silverlight as its backbone, WWE will develop a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide fans with the rich and compelling interface they deserve, while at the same time providing advertisers with new and innovative methods by which to reach the loyal and dedicated WWE customer base.
“Using the Silverlight tool kit we have been able to take advantage of tremendous creative flexibility and create a compelling user environment that our previous video product had only begun to offer,” said Ross Angert, WWE.com Creative Director. “We plan to continue to use these new tools to extend the WWE brand and the consumption of our unique and amazing content.”
WWE.com will use the Silverlight technology as the primary video display and interactive experience. Currently, WWE.com offers more than 14,000 individual video clips, including original online shows, highlights from weekly WWE programming and classic moments in WWE’s long and legendary history.
“The flexibility and ease-of-use of Silverlight will allow WWE to deliver its online video content within a more compelling and interactive experience, to the millions of WWE.com visitors each month,” said Jonathan Zerden, WWE Vice President, Interactive Technologies. “We are committed to using cutting-edge technology to create the most immersive online experience we can. Working with an established organization such as Microsoft, we are confident that this new method of delivering video will only improve upon the experience our fans already enjoy at WWE.com.”
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 owned by 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.
Contacts:
Media:
Gary
Davis, 203-353-5066
or
Investor:
Michael
Weitz, 203-352-8642
