WWE extends TV deal with BSkyB for five more years

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

WWE today announced that it has extended its television rights contract with British Sky Broadcasting in the UK for another five years, taking the partnership into its milestone twenty-fifth year. BSkyB is one of the most important partners for WWE outside North America. The new deal kicks off in January 2010 with the satellite provider airing ten and a half first run hours of WWE shows including RAW, Smackdown, ECW, Bottom Line, AfterBurn, Vintage Collection and This Week in WWE. WWE Experience and WWE Superstars will start airing on Sky1 also in high definition. Eight of the thirteen pay-per-views including the big four will be airing on Sky Box Office for a fee while the rest will air on Sky Sports. "The new agreement sees our broadcast partnership with BSkyB reach a history-making 25 years; there is no greater testimony to the mutually beneficial nature of our relationship. It has been pivotal to WWE reaching the new heights of popularity we now enjoy in the UK. We look forward to continuing to grow our brand presence with BSkyB," said Andrew Whitaker, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa for WWE. Sky Sports Managing Director, Barney Francis, added, "Our relationship with WWE goes back many years, since our network began in 1989. WWE fans have grown up watching all the big events and weekly programmes on Sky. We are delighted to once again extend our relationship and offer our viewers the globally renowned sports entertainment which is WWE for another five years - and all available in high definition."

WWE today announced that it has extended its television rights contract with British Sky Broadcasting in the UK for another five years, taking the partnership into its milestone twenty-fifth year. BSkyB is one of the most important partners for WWE outside North America.

The new deal kicks off in January 2010 with the satellite provider airing ten and a half first run hours of WWE shows including RAW, Smackdown, ECW, Bottom Line, AfterBurn, Vintage Collection and This Week in WWE. WWE Experience and WWE Superstars will start airing on Sky1 also in high definition.

Eight of the thirteen pay-per-views including the big four will be airing on Sky Box Office for a fee while the rest will air on Sky Sports.

"The new agreement sees our broadcast partnership with BSkyB reach a history-making 25 years; there is no greater testimony to the mutually beneficial nature of our relationship. It has been pivotal to WWE reaching the new heights of popularity we now enjoy in the UK. We look forward to continuing to grow our brand presence with BSkyB," said Andrew Whitaker, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa for WWE.

Sky Sports Managing Director, Barney Francis, added, "Our relationship with WWE goes back many years, since our network began in 1989. WWE fans have grown up watching all the big events and weekly programmes on Sky. We are delighted to once again extend our relationship and offer our viewers the globally renowned sports entertainment which is WWE for another five years - and all available in high definition."