WWE Network All About It

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The WWE Network announcement from The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas!

They introduced Michael Cole to the stage. Cole welcomed everyone to Las Vegas. He said they were delighted to have everyone join them for one of the biggest days in WWE history.

Cole said that WWE is taking a huge step towards delivering their product to their fans, no matter how they view the product. Cole said it's fitting it's at CES. He said that everything began as the vision of one man...and introduced Vince McMahon.

Vince McMahon, with a massive smile on his face, came out. He said that he's been called many things, but the best is a fan. He said that he's a WWE fan and today is a great day for being a WWE fan and he'll explain why in a moment.

They played a WWE package video that is used usually for stockholders and promotional partners, touting the company's popularity, social media, crossover in the entertainment world and charity work.

After the video, Vince said it's a great day to be a WWE fan because they are launching the WWE Network. They showed off the WWE Network, using the same music that was often used for Classics on Demand.

Vince introduced Michelle Wilson, the WWE's Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer. She said that today is about the transformation of how WWE presents their premium content. She said in 1985, Wrestlemania 1 was seen by one million fans via closed circuit.

Today, they are announcing the WWE Network and it will be over the top and groundbreaking - with 24/7 streaming programming, original live content and a huge on demand library that fans can access from any mobile device. She touted it would be over the top unlike anything ever.

Wilson said WWE fans want their content anywhere, anytime at any price. She said that WWE fans are engaged in consuming online content, claiming they consume 5 times the online videos then a non-WWE fan and are more likely to subscribe to a service such as Netflix.

The Network will be priced at $9.99 a month and will include:

All 12 PPVs including Wrestlemania at no additional charge.

*Pre-and Post shows for Raw and Smackdown.

*Live daily studio show.

*NXT and Smackdown.

*VOD of every WWE, WCW and ECW PPV.

*"Past years" of Raw and Smackdown and more.

*Vintage content will be branded legacy content with additional material added every month.

They will launch via most streaming services in the United States first and then add UK, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore and other countries by late 2014/early 2015 with additional countries to follow.

The Network's slogan is "It's Way over the top."

Stephanie McMahon was introduced. She said that whether you loved the Attitude era, the Hulk Hogan era or are a new fan, the Network will feature programming from all of those eras. She broke down the original content:

*The pre and post game shows for Raw and Smackdown, promising a look into the backstage world of WWE.

*WWE NXT, which she described as a series that follows the developmental talent and sees "who will make it to the main roster." They played a promo video for NXT.

*Legends House, featuring 8 WWE Legends living in a house together. They showed clips featuring Pat Patterson, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Hart, Gene Okerlund, Hacksaw Duggan, Tony Atlas, Howard Finkel and more. The slogan was "legendary character, legendary series."

Stephanie praised the connection between WWE fans and WWE talents. She said she had one of those moments when she was in the crowd at Wrestlemania 1 and saw her friend Andre the Giant bodyslam Big John Studd. She said she had the blessing of sitting next to Andre later that night and listen to his stories. With the Network, they given the fans the chance to do the same with "Wrestlemania Rewind." They aired a promo from the series, showing classic matches as well as comments about those moments, similar to a VH-1 panelist show.

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WWE® NETWORK LAUNCHES FEBRUARY 24

STAMFORD, Conn., January 8, 2014 – WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, will launch live in the U.S. on Monday, February 24, featuring all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania® – valued at more than $600 per year for $9.99 per month with a 6-month commitment. WWE Network will also include groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

Fans can subscribe to WWE Network beginning at 9 am ET on Monday, February 24 at WWE.com, and for a limited time will be offered a free one week trial. WWE Network, the first 24/7 network delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution, will be available on desktops and laptops via WWE.com. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on: Amazon's Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation® 3 and Sony PlayStation® 4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

"Today is a historic day for WWE as we transform and reimagine how we deliver our premium live content and 24/7 programming directly to our fans around the world," said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. "WWE Network will provide transformative growth for our company and unprecedented value for our fans."

WWE Network will also offer fans a revolutionary second screen experience for all original programming and live events via the WWE App, similar to the interactive fan experience currently available for flagship TV programs Raw® and SmackDown®

WWE collaborated with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) to build a powerful solution for delivering 24/7 WWE content to fans. MLBAM will provide its industry-leading technology services, including video streaming infrastructure, application development and operational support for reliable cross-platform distribution.

MLBAM has been at the forefront of streaming technology for more than a decade, powering its own live video subscription product since 2002. Last year, MLBAM managed live video content for more than 25,000 events, covering 80,000 hours of broadcast programming, across its sports and entertainment partners.

"We applaud WWE for this bold, timely and strategic move to fully optimize the power and potential of live entertainment," said Bob Bowman, President and CEO, MLBAM. "We are proud to work with WWE to help provide its millions of loyal fans with unencumbered access to distinctive and engaging live content across the devices they use most."

WWE Network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

Programming Highlights

WWE Network will officially launch with the live Monday Night Raw Post-Show on Monday, February 24 at 11:06 pm ET, and fans will instantly have access to the most comprehensive WWE video-on-demand library upon signing up. In addition to live Raw and SmackDown pre- and post-shows every week, new programming including a live studio show and additional on-demand content will be added in the future.

At launch, WWE Network will include:

All 12 Live Pay-Per-View Events

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All 12 current WWE pay-per-view events – including WrestleMania – will be available to subscribers live, as well as on demand.

Live pay-per-view 30 minute pre- and post-shows.

Original Programming

Every Monday and Friday night, WWE Network will air 30 minute pre- and post-shows for WWE's weekly cable programs Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

The Monday Night War™ – a series exploring the shocking real-life stories that fueled the mid-90s rivalry between WWE and WCW®. Battling for ratings dominance, WWE's Vince McMahon and WCW's Ted Turner engaged in a masterful game of one-upmanship, and in the process, elevated WWE Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro™ to all-new levels of pop-culture relevance.

WrestleMania Rewind – a comprehensive look back at the most groundbreaking matches and dramatic moments in WrestleMania history, including never-before-seen footage and in-depth interviews.

WWE Countdown™ – a one hour, groundbreaking, interactive, countdown series that puts the power squarely in viewers' hands by giving the audience the chance to discuss and rank WWE's most spectacular Superstars, unexpected moments, best catch phrases and more through digital polling and social media interaction.

Coming in April: WWE Legends House™ – WWE's greatest Legends reunite for a new title – only this time, they're competing outside of the ring. Imagine a beautiful house in the suburbs – perfectly furnished, with gorgeous landscaping, a lovely pool and quiet, respectable neighbors. WWE Superstars from the past including Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will turn the neighborhood upside down as the house staff tries their best to keep these Legends on time, on speaking terms, and out of trouble in this new reality show.

WWE NXT® – WWE Superstars and Divas of tomorrow face off every week on WWE NXT, a one-hour weekly show that features the brightest and best of WWE's rising stars. WWE NXT showcases the Superstars and Divas from WWE's Performance Center as well as appearances from WWE Superstars and Legends in an intimate setting. WWE NXT broadcasts from the state-of-the-art Full Sail LIVE venue on the Full Sail University in campus in Orlando, Florida.

WWE Superstars® – a one-hour weekly show highlighting the best of WWE Superstars and Divas in heart-pounding matches. Features highlights from all WWE programming, as well as a special glimpse at everything going on in the WWE Universe.

Video On Demand

WWE Network will offer all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views as well as classic matches uncut and uncensored, encores of Raw, SmackDown and WWE Main Event™ totaling more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch.

All episodes of original programming on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after they premiere, allowing viewers to watch on their schedule.

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- WWE sent us the official FAQ for the WWE Network with lots of questions answered for consumers:

1. What is WWE Network?
WWE Network is a 24/7 streaming service with both scheduled programming and an on-demand library. WWE Network will include all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania 30, groundbreaking original series, reality shows and documentaries, and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional programming, including a live daily studio show coming this summer, and video-on-demand content will be added regularly.

2. How much will a subscription to WWE Network cost?
A monthly subscription to WWE Network is $9.99 per month (plus tax where applicable) with a 6-month commitment.

3. How do fans purchase WWE Network?
To subscribe to WWE Network, fans should go to WWE.com beginning Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

4. When can fans buy WWE Network?
Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

5. When will WWE Network be available?
Live programming on WWE Network will begin on Monday, February 24 at 11:06 pm ET with a live post-show immediately following Monday Night Raw. Video-on-demand programming will be available immediately at 9:00 am ET.

6. What devices will WWE Network be available on?
WWE Network will be available on desktops and laptops via WWE.com. WWE Network will also be available through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation®3 and Sony PlayStation®4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer. For more information, go to wwe.com/devices.

7. If fans already have the WWE App, do they need to update it to get WWE Network?
The WWE App will automatically update on iOS and Android-powered mobile devices to play WWE Network. To watch on connected devices such as Roku streaming devices, Sony PlayStation® 3 and Sony PlayStation® 4 and Xbox 360, fans must download the new WWE App, which will be available on Monday, February 24.

8. What content will WWE Network feature?
WWE Network is a 24/7 streaming service with both scheduled programming and an on-demand library. WWE Network will include all 12 WWE live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania 30, groundbreaking original series, reality shows and documentaries, and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional programming, including a live daily studio show coming this summer, and video-on-demand content will be added regularly.

9. Will WrestleMania be available as a part of this subscription?
Yes, WrestleMania is included with a subscription.

10. Will encores of Raw, SmackDown and Main Event be on WWE Network?
Yes, encores of these programs will be available on WWE Network.

11. Will Pay-Per-View events still be available outside WWE Network?
Yes, WWE will continue to offer individual pay-per-view events to TV providers. Fans should call their local cable or satellite provider for availability.

12. Will classic WWE content be available on WWE Network?
Yes, a WWE Network subscription will include access to the most comprehensive video-on-demand library featuring all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views and classic matches uncut and uncensored as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown episodes. Additional content will be added regularly.

13. Will "WWE Superstars" and NXT air on WWE Network?
Yes, premiere episodes of Superstars and NXT will air on WWE Network.

14. Will Raw, SmackDown and Main Event move to WWE Network?
No, Raw, SmackDown and Main Event will continue to air on their current networks – USA, Syfy and ION television, respectively.

15. Will shows on WWE Network be available in HD?
Yes, all programming on the WWE Network will be available in HD.

16. Will shows on WWE Network be available in Spanish?
Live pay-per-views will be available in Spanish. All other programming will be presented in English.

17. Will shows be closed captioned?
Yes.

18. Will WWE Network also be available through cable or satellite providers?
No, WWE Network is delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution on the following devices: desktops and laptops via WWE.com; through the WWE App on: Amazon’s Kindle Fire devices; Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy; iOS devices such as Apple iPad and iPhone; Roku streaming devices; Sony PlayStation®3 and Sony PlayStation®4; and Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow this summer.

19. Will all of the programming that premieres on WWE Network also be available via on demand?
Yes, all programming that premieres on the network will become immediately available in the video-on-demand library.

20. How quickly will content that premieres on WWE Network be made available on demand?
Content that premieres on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after it airs.

21. Does WWE Network programming contain advertisements?
Most WWE programming on WWE Network will be commercial-free, however, there will be limited promotional content in select programs.

22. Is the entire WWE library available through on demand?
WWE Network will launch with more than 1,500 hours of on-demand content, including all WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views. New, on-demand content will be added regularly.

23. Will WWE Network be available internationally?
Beginning Monday, February 24, WWE Network will only be available in the United States. WWE Network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.

24. Will all content on WWE Network be PG?
WWE Network will contain a range of programming suitable for various audiences. Content rated TV-14 or TV-MA will be preceded by appropriate advisory messages recommending viewer discretion. Parental controls will be available for on-demand content.

25. Can parental controls be set-up on WWE Network?
Yes, parents will have the ability to block content that is rated TV-14 and TV-MA for on-demand content only. Viewer discretion is advised for live 24/7 streaming programming.

26. Who can fans call or email today if they have questions?
Customer Service support will be available beginning Monday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m. ET by calling 1-866-308-5684 or emailing [e-mail]. Additionally, searchable Frequently Asked Questions and live chat service will be offered starting February 24.

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It's official -- the WWE Network is coming, set to launch on Monday, February 24th. The world's largest pro wrestling organization made the presentation Wednesday night at the annual CES event in Las Vegas, NV.

Here are the big highlights:

- The network will be $9.99/month with a six-month commitment. Fans can sign up for a one-week free trial starting on Feb. 24th at 9 AM EST. It officially launches with the RAW post-show at 11:05 PM EST that night.

- All 12 WWE pay-per-views will move to the network, starting with Wrestlemania 30.

- All past WWE, WCW, and ECW pay-per-views will be available on-demand.

- The network will feature original shows like Legend House (reality show featuring retired wrestlers), Wrestlemania Rewind (looking back at specific matches), Countdown (a rankings/list-style show), Monday Night War: WWE vs. WCW, and more. Legends House begins in April.

- NXT and Superstars will be on the network.

- 30-minute pre and post shows for RAW and Smackdown will be part of the network, and a daily live studio show will also launch.

- In total, over 1500 hours of video on demand will be available at launch, including encore airings of RAW, Smackdown, and Main Events. Classic matches "uncut and uncensored" will also be available.

- The network will be available on all devices like PS3, Xbox 360, Roku, smartphones, desktops, laptops, and more. Coming soon: Xbox One, select smart TVs and more.

- Using the WWE app, fans will have access to a second screen experience for live events and original shows.

- WWE will sell a limited amount of sponsorship and ads. Most shows will air commercial free.

- MLB Advanced Media will help power the network, including video stream infrastructure, app development and operational support. They count ESPN as one of their clients. As someone that works in Internet performance, this is a great partnership.

- The network will not immediately be available around the world, and is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014 to early 2015.

The presentation featured Steve Austin, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Michael Cole, and several key office personnel discussing the Network. Social media reaction was extremely positive, and the overwhelming consensus was that the network already blows the UFC Fight Pass offering in its current state away.