WWE announced their fourth quarter financial results from 2015 on Thursday. For the quarter, the company reported a net loss of $1.2 million, compared to the $1.6 million loss in the prior year’s fourth quarter. The company reported a 50% increase in revenue from the WWE Network compared to the prior year’s quarter. They averaged a subscriber base of 1,237,000 for the duration of the quarter.
Here are some highlights of WWE’s fourth quarter, from their press release issued on Thursday:
– Revenue increased 18% to $166.2 million driving a $6.0 million increase in Adjusted OIBDA1 to $11.1 million
– WWE Network had 1.22 million ending paid subscribers, representing a 49% increase from the fourth quarter 2014; WWE Network hit an all-time high of 1.24 million average paid subscribers for the quarter
– WWE Network was recognized as the fifth largest direct-to-consumer (OTT) subscription service in the U.S. according to Parks Associates, ranking alongside Netflix (NFLX), Amazon Video, Hulu and MLB.TV
– WWE was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (effective January 20, 2016)
The press release noted that in 2015 WWE Network subscribers watched an estimated average of 188 hours of content per household, and WWE garnered more than 8 billion views on YouTube. They also say they achieved record international revenues of $170 million. Here are some highlights from the press release regarding WWE’s performance in 2015:
– Revenue increased 21% to $658.8 million, the highest in the Companys history, including record levels of revenue from WWEs Network, Television, Live event, Venue Merchandise, and WWE Shop businesses
– Total international revenue increased by 46% to a record $169.8 million
– Adjusted OIBDA1 reached $68.7 million, representing an $80.3 million increase from 2014
– Network segment generated revenue of $159.4 million and OIBDA1 of $48.4 million that nearly doubled the average annual revenue of the Companys pay-per-view business before network launch
– WWE Network subscribers watched an estimated total of 256 million hours of content, representing an average of 188 hours per household placing it among the top cable and broadcast networks
– WWE content garnered more than 8 billion views on YouTube; WWE was the most followed sports channel on YouTube and the second most followed sports brand on Facebook
– WWE generated 790 million social media fan engagements in 20152; Sprinklrs Social Business Index ranked WWE as the 6th most social brand worldwide, alongside Disney, Time Warner and Google
WWE says they predict a first quarter 2016 adjusted OIBDA of approximately $15 million to $19 million. You can read the full press release here.
