The WWE announced that its WWE Network has surpassed 1 million subscribers in just 11 months. Despite early concerns about retaining subscribers, the company has hit a significant benchmark with its digital platform.
The announcement comes a week ahead of its 4th Quarter earnings for 2014. The increase in its subscribers is a dramatic turn from its 3rd Quarter announcement of 731,000 viewers. The WWE offered a free November for potential subscribers to have a chance to check it out. It appears that this promotion, the appearance of “The Rock” and others at the Royal Rumble as well as launching the network in the U.K. and Ireland have helped boost the subscription number.
The results reflect a 37% increase globally and 24% domestically. Despite the buzz that people were going to cancel the network en masse due to the Royal Rumble result, the show actually reflected positive gains.
WWE stock is up 20% on Tuesday at the time of this writing.
Payout Perspective:
Great news for the WWE Network as it is near the 1.4 million subscriber number which would put the WWE investment in the platform at break even. It is behind its projected 1.25 million subscriber number per Dave Meltzer. Yet, with the rumor that it will once again offer a free February and with “Wrestlemania Season” upon us, the subscription number should remain solid for now. The 1 million subscribers could be attributed to the “Free November” which was interesting considering the content during that month was not astounding. MMA Payout will keep you posted on the earnings report next week.
Doesnt UFC have less than 90,000 subscribers?
Lol at free. The wwe subscription is like a gym membership. They offer it for free knowing people will not watch it or cancel and wwe will suck it from their bank account for years.
No numbers are ever given by the UFC like its some top fucking secret. Tells me its most likely not doing well.
It tells you that because you are an idiot. I don’t release my companies financial info and it sure as hell doesn’t mean my company isn’t doing well. Also Fox sports has its own online steam with Fox Sports Go and they also don’t tell how many viewers they get. Only what percent increase there was but not actual numbers.
Saldaqueef, let me know when boxing releases its ppv numbers. We have to get insiders like Rafael to leak the info with the rare exception of when they have a good draw like the Mayweather-Canelo fight. How many times did Espinoza lie about Showtime’s Mayweather ppv buys? 3 out of 4. Nice try dummy.
even if WWE gives away the membership for free, Vince McMahon is making money.. if the WWE post solid subscriber numbers, the stock price shoots up… The money is in the stock and increasing the value of ownership equity..
Music companies do this as well… Lil Wayne [Birdman] will buy his own records during the first to drive up and inflate First Week sales numbers… the benefit of this is that it gives Wayne a ton of publicity for the tours… Wayne and pretty much everyone knows that the money in the Music Industry is TOURING. NOT in record sales…
24/7 Wall Street did an interesting article on the WWE dressing up their network subscriber numbers..
http://247wallst.com/media/2015/01/28/world-wrestling-entertainment-cant-pin-down-subscribers/
Not a fan of when public companies use these type of tactics. It stinks of desperation. Also it could border on illegal as to stock manipulation, insider trading, etc.
Reminds me of the 24 hour fitness centers who are catering to non traditional gym goers. Gyms have always made most of their money on members who do not use theor membership but do not cancel either. 24 hour fitness just realized there is more non gym users than gym users and have set them as their goal. With cheap prices and no intimidation. The gyms bring in tons of noobs who have no chance in hell of sticking with it. Free money for the gym and lots of it. It is oone thing when it is gym users who happen to not go. Its another when your company goes in with the intentions of screwing you over. With so many free month samples that is clearly what WWE is doing.