Wrestlenomics

After helping WWE complete major increases in the value of its U.S. TV deals, WWE has hired Nick Khan to be its new President and Chief Revenue Officer. His hiring, and the introduction of other executives like new CFO Kristina Salen, comes as TV viewership is in unprecedented decline and there's ambiguity whether the popularity of the brand is being hindered by COVID-19, or by some broader problem with creative.

Plus, a study of quarter-hour data shows there are certain quarters that are likely to gain viewers. Unlike NXT's women's roster, women on AEW's roster seldom appear in those viewer-friendly quarters. Are women in AEW not put in those positions because they're not over, or are they not over because they're not put in those positions?

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Avid reader of SEC filings Brandon Thurston breaks down the WWE Q2 2020 earnings report as only he can. We look at all the news as the company was even more profitable than the market expected, leading to an increase in shares in after market trading.

Plus: How did Vince McMahon respond to questions about declining TV viewership? Online merchandise sales are way up. Live Event business is almost non-existent to due COVID. Yet the company is more profitable than ever.

In fact, WWE is so profitable that executives (yes, those very executives who cut costs and laid off workers in April) are thinking about resuming the company's stock buyback program.

For more, go to wrestlenomics.com

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How should we read TV viewership declines in 2020? How low do viewer metrics have to be for it become a concern for WWE's TV partners like Fox and USA Network?

Plus, Brandon Thurston lays out an argument for why the acquisition of WWE by Comcast (while unlikely) would be in the best interest of partners, shareholders, and fans.

Referenced in this episode:

Ad Age Remotely: WWE Chief Brand Officer on pivoting during the pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAgAyqBNHwg

Vince McMahon's 1991 letter in The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/14/sports/backtalk-world-wrestling-federation-answers-body-slams.html

For more information, go to wrestlenomics.com

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What matters when it comes to wrestling TV viewership? Brandon Thurston talks about the coveted key demo, total audience, and TV rights fees.

The number of wrestlers working 10 or more matches for major companies exploded in recent years. What does it mean for independent wrestling?

Plus: Stephanie McMahon talks about the gender pay gap, Florida takes the lead in COVID19 cases, NBCU launches Peacock with WWE content, a preview of the upcoming WWE Q2 earnings report, and more.

For articles and resources from the leading source for wrestling business analysis, visit wrestlenomics.com

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The foremost independent expert in pro-wrestling business, Brandon Thurston breaks down the most pressing news stories of the week.

*Comments from Paul Levesque downplay WWE's COVID test results as reportedly more than 30 people test positive for the virus, and cases rise in Florida.

*WWE announces the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer, former Etsy CFO Kristina Salen.

*WWE viewership doom watch: detailed insight on viewership for the big programs and an explanation about why it's unlikely the current TV deals will change any time soon.

Take the Pro-wrestling Favorability Survey at wrestlenomics.com.

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What can we learn from Google web search data related to the biggest stars in WWE and AEW?

Why is the linear wrestling audience so old? Is it representative of the actual consumer base or skewed by media choices?

Plus, Brandon Thurston goes into detail talking about research he recently did breaking down the quarter-hour data in the Wednesday night competition between NXT and AEW.

More for written articles and resources go to wrestlenomics.com

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We go through the facts from the news transpiring from the Speaking Out movement, as numerous stories of sexual assault and other misconduct where made public in the past week. Then, as many as 30 people within WWE reportedly have contracted COVID-19 after the company has declined to administer COVID testing until recently.

Visit wrestlenomics.com for Brandon Thurston's latest written work and access to a great collection of data and resources related to the wrestling business.

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We learned of an update in the complaint filed by a pension leading a class-action lawsuit against WWE. The plaintiffs claim WWE and its executives failed to disclose information to stockholders as the company’s deal with Middle East North Africa TV partners OSN ended early, and an attempt to make a deal with Saudi-owned MBC faltered.

Numerous stories of abuse and sexual misconduct in the wrestling industry have appeared online in what’s being called the #SpeakingOut movement.

Plus the latest on COVID-19, as a talent tests positive, NJPW returns to events, and Dragon Gate is set to have its first event with fans, in July.

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Wrestling stars who spike business usually do so soon after being elevated to main event status for the first time in their career. We explore this and the news of the last week or so, including:

-New Japan announces its return to events

-Triple H on why WWE isn't doing COVID-19 testing, and his new executive title

-MLW signs with DAZN

-The new free tier for the WWE Network means the end of free trials

-Was WWE Network really as profitable as Stephane McMahon said recently?

References:

Stephanie McMahon “CMO Moves” interview: https://soundcloud.com/user-204678039/stephanie-mcmahon-cbo-of-wwe-staying-slightly-ahead-of-the-curve

Paul Levesque pre-NXT Takeover media conference (via Fightful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaAYXe3sDmg

Paul Levesque post-NXT Takeover media conference (via Fightful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr4v6AtrDxI

COVID-19 country data: ourworldindata.org

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429

WWE proxy statement 2019: https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/wwe/SEC/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=13989063&Cik=0001091907&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1

MLW signs deal with DAZN: https://www.f4wonline.com/mlw-news/mlw-signs-us-streaming-deal-dazn-312911

Vince McMahon email to staff: https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=136910

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As people across the U.S. protest racism and police brutality, we divert from the usual focus on wrestling business.

Audio clip sources:

-Xavier Woods, UpUpDownDown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmmTyEmCZpE

-MVP, Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-QQM4xcLMU0

-James Baldwin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwhNWPLVF-Q | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmL3F5uylo

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xsbt3a7K-8

-Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, “Tears We Cannot Stop”: https://www.audible.com/pd/Tears-We-Cannot-Stop-Audiobook/

-Toni Morrison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2txzMkT5Pc

-Nikki Giovanni: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpa5o3cu3Y

-Malcolm X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uYWDyYNUg

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