According to a report by Deadline,WWE is set to ‘show off its media moves this Monday’ at the NBCU and FOX upfront presentations.
The report notes that at NBCU’s presentation to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall this Monday morning, WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and WWE Superstar The Miz are both scheduled to speak. At FOX’s afternoon event at Skylight on Vesey, Universal/WWE Champion Roman Reigns and WWE superstar Charlotte Flair will be two of the five Fox Sports figures in attendance.
Deadline also notes, the activity follows WWE’s strong quarterly financial report which showed a 27% upswing in total revenue as live events returned after the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, and WWE’s 2021 licensing deal with Peacock, which integrated programming from the stand-alone WWE Network into NBCU’s service, is also showing signs of traction.
WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon told Deadline in an interview WWE’s trademark blend of sports and entertainment offers distinct advantages.
Stephanie said the following:
“It really is both…It’s like athletic theater. It’s the story, that’s why you care…you’re swept up in the storylines. We can script the buzzer-beater moments, we can script the Hail Marys. We have a leg up on sports. … You may object to what we do, but you’re never going to be bored.”
Stephanie also went on to say that unlike pro sports leagues, WWE is structured in a way that favors streamlined deal making with sponsors, noting there are no players unions, team owners, stadium authorities or agents needing to sign off on activations — instead, a “one-stop shop” available for creative executions.