The following press release was issued today by WWE:
World Wresting Entertainment Offers Interactive Fan Experience on Monday Night RAW; Fans Interact with the Viewing Experience by Logging on to WWE.COM, Powered by GoldPocket
STAMFORD, Conn., Nov 2, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) — World Wrestling Entertainment’s Monday Night RAW(R) has gone interactive. Every Monday from now until January 17, 2004, WWE(R) will present “WWE RAW Interactive” on wwe.com, a two-hour, live event that is synchronized perfectly with the television program Monday Night RAW on Spike TV (9 p.m. ET).
“Our fans are so passionate about WWE that they actively seek new ways to interact with the brand and its Superstars,” said Kurt Schneider, WWE Executive Vice President, Marketing. “We know many of them watch RAW while emailing their friends or participating in web chats about the show. This interactive experience puts them right in the middle of the action.”
Fans are polled on their opinions about the on-screen action, get to predict the winners of individual matches, have access to exclusive behind-the-scenes information, and test their RAW knowledge with live trivia and information about what they have just seen on air. “For instance, one question might ask for trivia about a Superstar while his match is occurring during the show,” said Schneider. “Other questions might ask about a past event on the program or who just advertised.”
At-home users compete against viewers across the country in real time to win weekly prizes and the chance to win a grand prize trip for two to WrestleMania(R) 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 3, 2005.
Fans can compare their scores with others through live leader boards. Poll results and leader boards will appear on air, making the RAW Interactive audience part of the show.
The iTV content for WWE RAW Interactive, powered by GoldPocket Interactive, is designed to highlight the unique culture of the WWE fans. Elements such as “interactive posters” help bring the excitement of the ring into viewers’ living rooms. Online chat features allow RAW Interactive participants to discuss the show with fans across the nation as the action occurs.
“The initiative we have developed with WWE is an excellent example of how we can help a programmer enhance the viewer experience,” said Scott Newnam, CEO of GoldPocket Interactive. “Our technology allows us to provide hours of live content that is in perfect rhythm with the user’s experience of the program.”
The interactive process starts when viewers turn on RAW and are directed to log on to wwe.com while watching the show. There, they will find a button that launches the interactive experience during the broadcast.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
GoldPocket, the leading provider of advanced media technologies, develops and sells products and services that create, manage, and deliver digital and interactive media. The Company specializes in high performance advanced media systems used in digital television, PC/TV convergence systems, and wireless networks. The Company’s customers include most of the world’s largest media and distribution companies including Time Warner, NewsCorp, Disney, Viacom, DirecTV, and many television networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, GSN, A&E, History Channel, Spike TV, The WB, Speed Channel, PBS, AMC, TBS, CNN, Bravo, Fuse, and Lifetime.
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment(R) televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
SOURCE: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
