WWE Conference Call

[haVoc 0]

WWE held a conference call today to discuss the company's financial figures for the first quarter of the year, which were released this morning.

 

It was pointed out that there were four PPV events in this quarter, as opposed to only two PPV events in this quarter for last year, due to the way the events fell on the calendar.

 

In a prepared statement, WWE Chief Executive Officer Linda McMahon discussed the value of the tape library WWE possesses, mentioning the success of the Chris Benoit DVD set, and stated that WWE expects the Eddie Guerrero and "Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD to do well for the company. She later put over the success of Ric Flair's DVD release and book. Linda's statement also mentioned WWE 24/7, and that the company expects a big demand for "classic" merchandise and releases.

 

Linda said that WWE Films will have a combined budget of $20 million dollars for their first two feature projects.

 

The "Taboo Tuesday" PPV in October will be an "interactive" event, with fans being able to vote on events that will take place during the show, via WWE.com.

 

Following a review of the figures, there was a brief Question & Answer session with WWE Chief Executive Officer Linda McMahon, WWE Chief Financial Officer Phil Livingston, and WWE Vice President of Investor Relations Michelle Goldstein.

 

Here are highlights from the Q&A:

 

- Linda talked about how their acquisition of tape libraries allows them to put out DVD releases on wrestlers like Chris Benoit and include footage from throughout their career, something no other group was ever able to do before (since they were all separate companies). She also talked about the success of "classic" action figures and toys, and how they are looking to create more DVDs that take advantage of the tape library.

 

- There is nothing specific planned for The Rock, although he will continue to make "occasional appearances" on the shows. He is not returning to the active roster at this time.

 

- There are plans to do more overseas TV productions (like the upcoming UK tour which will culminate in Raw and Smackdown tapings) in the future.

 

- Linda said the release for "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD is now set for November.

 

- McMahon said that the live events and house shows are "dragging a bit" domestically, but that they are still profitable for the company.

 

- The video-on-demand that WWE has introduced online is just a "soft launch" test for future ideas. There are also plans for an online "fantasy" game for WWE.

 

- WWE is still in negotiations with Spike TV for when their contract expires.

 

Credit: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com/InsidePulse.com

[Mole 0]

Linda said the release for "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD is now set for November.

This is going to be an interesting DVD, but is it going to be any good?

 

I haven't seen the Monday Night Wars DVD, but I've read that it wasn't historically correct. I wonder if they will do the same with the ECW DVD.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Yes, I trust WWE to run perfectly legit polls and such to determine what happens on their show.

[Kizzo 0]

So the negotiations with Viacom are starting right now......

 

I wonder how much they will get with this new contract...

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

So the negotiations with Viacom are starting right now......

 

I wonder how much they will get with this new contract...

Despite the downtunr in business the WWE are probobly a very good asset. Isn't RAW the highest rated show on SPIKE?

[CanadianChick 0]

So the negotiations with Viacom are starting right now......

 

I wonder how much they will get with this new contract...

Despite the downtunr in business the WWE are probobly a very good asset. Isn't RAW the highest rated show on SPIKE?

As a regular show, I'm pretty sure. Joe Shmoe might have beat it, but that's only a handful of weeks.

[Scroby 0]

QUOTE 

Linda said the release for "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD is now set for November.

 

This is going to be an interesting DVD, but is it going to be any good?

 

I haven't seen the Monday Night Wars DVD, but I've read that it wasn't historically correct. I wonder if they will do the same with the ECW DVD.

 

It's not that, that it was a 100% historically correct it was just a lot of WWE ass kissing done and a few lies here and there from HBK. For example when HBK stuck the fruit in his pants and was jumping around he said he was doing it as a joke instead of trying to get fired so he could jump to WCW. Basically they don't talk about the WWE backstage happenings as much as they did with the WCW backstage happeings.

 

The ECW dvd could be good if they get guys who were there for a long stint of time or with the company till the very end to talk about it. But if they get a few guys who were there for only a short period of time and can't really go into great detail about the company then I don't think it'd be that enjoyable to watch also the people they do get to talk about ECW hold back what really happen instead of saying what really happen or speaking their mind, then we might get that part of the Monday Night Wars all over again. Plus they should have a lot of bonus matches on that, some of the more "important" matches. Like maybe Lynn/RVD, Raven/Dreamer, Dudley matches, Sandman, Sabu, Tanatka(sp?)/Awesome matches.

[Epic Reine 0]

For people to speak on the ECW DVD, I'd use:

 

Taz

Dreamer

Heyman

RVD

Rhyno

Spike

Dudleyz

 

And maybe a few, like one line or two comments from guys who stopped in there, but it helped their careers, like Benoit, Guerrero, Malenko, and Jericho.

 

Maybe even use Terry Funk, since he's always on good terms with WWE. Also use Foley for a bit on it too.

 

Right there, even if not 100% truthful, should make for an interesting DVD.

[Mole 0]

If they don't get Heyman to talk then there is no point to the DVD. It would be like not having Bischoff not on the Monday Night Wars DVD.

[CBright7831 0]

Off topic for a moment, Mole, where did you find that picture at?

[Guest CronoT]

Linda said the release for "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD is now set for November.

This is going to be an interesting DVD, but is it going to be any good?

 

I haven't seen the Monday Night Wars DVD, but I've read that it wasn't historically correct. I wonder if they will do the same with the ECW DVD.

As one of the oldest sayings in the world goes, "History is written by the winners."

[Guest Super Pissed Smark]

Linda said that WWE Films will have a combined budget of $20 million dollars for their first two feature projects.

 

What sort of action films starring WWE performers could be made for $10 million dollars a piece? Are they going the serious drama route?

 

Pretty bad films, you say? Yeah, I think that's the right answer too.

 

The "Taboo Tuesday" PPV in October will be an "interactive" event, with fans being able to vote on events that will take place during the show, via WWE.com.

 

Heh. If only they'd done that for Summerslam! Would half the arena chanting "End this match!" count in the voting, or do you need a net connection?

 

She also talked about the success of "classic" action figures and toys, and how they are looking to create more DVDs that take advantage of the tape library.

 

Good for us.

 

- There is nothing specific planned for The Rock, although he will continue to make "occasional appearances" on the shows. He is not returning to the active roster at this time.

 

Good for Rock.

 

- Linda said the release for "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" DVD is now set for November.

 

Appropriate.

 

- McMahon said that the live events and house shows are "dragging a bit" domestically, but that they are still profitable for the company.

 

If the numbers they're drawing at houses is "dragging a bit", I'd hate to think what "crashed through the floor", "flushed down the drain" or "it's just total shit" would look like.

 

- WWE is still in negotiations with Spike TV for when their contract expires.

 

Somebody cue the ominous music.