Read on for my thoughts on yesterday's WWE financial results.
Here's WWE's press release about their earnings for Q3 2013. Most of it's pretty good news.
- Higher revenue than Q3 2012. ====b
- Operating income was down. This was blamed on the losses of previous WWE Studios films (before the new distribution model). I think that area's doing better now, but there was definitely a time where a lot of people (myself included) wondered if they should pull the plug on that area of the company.
- WWE's TV contracts in the U.S. and the "potential" launch of the WWE Network are big parts of the company's business plans going forward. It might take a while for the latter to be a hit. Obviously they've been setting the stage for it for quite a while.
- Business is up in North America due to new TV programs. Thanks, "Total Divas"!
- More international events and more money from international TV deals was a plus, too. That's going to be important going forward.
- WWE usually makes more money internationally, where fans are probably less spoiled and burned out.
- Revenue from Summerslam was down, which isn't good to hear considering Bryan and Punk were in top roles. I think a lot of this can be blamed on there being so much wrestling available on a weekly basis, though I hope the Bryan and Punk fans who illegally got the PPV for free feel guilty since they might have just helped cause WWE to lose faith in "their guys". Interestingly, MITB was up for 2012.
Update: Some believe we might be moving into something of a "post-PPV" world once the WWE Network hits. TNA only does four "real" PPVs as it is. That will be something to really keep an eye on in the years to come.
- It'll be interesting to see how WWE 2K14 stacks up to previous games financially.
- I'm surprised WWE Magazine is still chugging along with all this "print media are dying" talk.
- Great to hear that digital media business is up. I hope that's the future.
- It's important to note about the change in distribution methods for WWE's films.
Here are notes from WWE's conference call.
- I wonder who will get buried over Summerslam not doing well. Do they panic and go with Sheamus or Cena as the top guy again? Hopefully they wait until they get some info on how the last few PPVs have done.
- I'LL SPEND THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ON A JET IF I WANT TO. I'M VINCE MCMAHON, DAMMIT. That's a pretty big expenditure.
- A lot of people are getting antsy anticipating the WWE Network and what form it will take. It might finally be on its way in 2014.
- Ooohh, I wonder what happens if they don't stay with NBC Universal. Bonnie Hammer's a longtime ally of theirs and is very powerful.
- Management potentially not being paid as much is a great motivator to do better.
Other notes:
- WWE's stock price jumped up nicely after the release of info. That's great news.
- There were technical difficulties for getting in questions at the conference call. There's usually not much interesting from questions anyway.
- JR responded to the day's news. I agree with his statements about PPVs. Why isn't this guy in Management? And I agree about there needing to be a change in some of the faces on the main roster, too. I think some talents have gotten complacent and could be replaced by more young and hungry performers. No, Cena's not one of the names I'm talking about. He still works hard, even though it would be good to use him in a better fashion.
All in all, a great read from JR.
More wrestling coming up.
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