WWE® AND IB SPORTS EXPAND PARTNERSHIP IN SOUTH KOREA
SEOUL South Korea and STAMFORD Conn. December 11 2020 – WWE (NYSE:WWE) and IB SPORTS today announced a new multi-year agreement to continue delivering WWE’s weekly flagship programming live and in Korean. In addition to airing Raw and SmackDown IB SPORTS will now offer NXT as part of the expanded partnership marking the first time it will be available in South Korea on broadcast television. IB SPORTS will also continue to offer all of WWE’s monthly pay-per-view events including WrestleMania®.
IB SPORTS airs Raw live at 10 am every Tuesday (replays Saturdays at 9 pm)and SmackDown live at 10 am on Saturdays (replays Wednesdays at 9 pm). Beginning Thursday January 7 2021 IB SPORTS will air NXT live at 10 am every Thursday (replay Mondays at 9 pm).
“We are glad to expand our long-term partnership with WWE and to continue offering the world’s best in sports entertainment programming ” said Jung Hwan Kim IB Sports CEO. “IB SPORTS is excited to introduce NXT to fans across South Korea and looks forward to launching on January 7.”
“IB SPORTS is a valued partner that shares our vision and passion for engaging and entertaining our fans ” said Jay Li WWE Vice President & General Manager North Asia. “We are pleased to expand our partnership with the addition of NXT and look forward to continuing to provide WWE’s unique blend of action-packed family-friendly entertainment throughout the country.”
IB SPORTS will also broadcast the latest seasons of Total Divas® and WWE highlight shows AfterBurn® and BottomLine® throughout the week. All programs will be available with Korean voiceover commentary and on IB SPORTS’ TV Everywhere platform for authenticated subscribers as well as its 14-day VOD catchup window.
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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’s TV-PG family-friendly programming can be seen in more than 800 million homes worldwide in 28 languages. WWE Network the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford Conn. with offices in New York Los Angeles London Mexico City Mumbai Shanghai Singapore Dubai Munich 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 IB SPORTS
IB SPORTS is a company specialized in operation/broadcasting of sports channels as well as the producvion of quality contents.
IB SPORTS operates General Sports Channel IB SPORTS Golf Channel Korea in coopeartion wiht NBC Universal and classic movie channel Wolrd Classic Movie.
Media Contacts:
WWE
Mead Rust
203-352-1084
mead.rust@wwecorp.com
IB SPORTS
Estela Choi
+82-2-511-8134
kb_estela@ibsports.com
Investor Contact:
Michael Weitz
203-352-8642
Michael.Weitz@wwecorp.com
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 press 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: the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business results of operations and financial condition; entering maintaining and renewing major distribution agreements; a rapidly evolving media landscape; WWE Network (including the risk that we are unable to attract retain and renew subscribers); our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; the possibility of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly competitive rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and greater financial resources or marketplace presence of many of our competitors; uncertainties associated with international markets including possible disruptions and reputational risks; our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our intellectual property rights our need to protect those rights and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events including without limitation claims alleging traumatic brain injury; large public events as well as travel to and from such events; our feature film business; our expansion into new or complementary businesses and/or strategic investments; our computer systems and online operations; privacy norms and regulations; a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; our accounts receivable; our indebtedness including our convertible notes; litigation; our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance which could adversely affect our stock; Vincent K. McMahon exercises control over our affairs and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by the McMahons and the sale or the perception of possible sales of those shares could lower our stock price; and the volatility of our Class A common stock. 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 (including under our revolving credit facility) general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s SEC filings including but not limited to our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.