Vince McMahon Says The WWE Is Open To Bids

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The WWE released its third quarter financial results that although weren’t impressive, they still narrowly hit the lower end of their targets.

While they had projected average paid subscribers to the WWE Network of 1.49 million, the number came in at an average of 1.46 million during the three month period. OIBDA (operating income before depreciation and amortisation) came in at $24.5 million, while they originally had projected $24-28 million.

Vince McMahon stated, “We remain very bullish on our long-term opportunity with our WWE Network and the ability to distribute our content directly to our global audience…. As far as television ratings are concerned, our brand extension we think continues to work very well. As far as is SmackDown as you know we went to a live format, it’s live format is about twice the ratings that were in the same time slot a year ago and is about 16% above what we were doing with SmackDown on a tape basis on Thursday nights on USA.”

McMahon also said, “Again we’re open to anything but I think that you know controlling your own destiny is so important. And I don’t know how much you lose control over that you know by being absorbed or sold or what have you, but again, we’re open to anything, we’re business people, so it’s not a question of if the right deal came along, it’s one of those things where if it’s a deal you couldn’t refuse, we’re listening. Otherwise you know we’re creating our own content, which is extremely valuable as George said over all platforms and that’s important. The old content is king is true, maybe truer today than it’s ever been. So we’re open for business.”