WWE To Give Away $1 Million A Week In Promo
Flamboyant Chairman Vince McMahon Hopes Giveaway Will Reverse Ratings Slide
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 6/3/2008 12:20:00 PM
Call it the $1 million a week watch-and-win promotion, a gambit by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to drive new and returning viewers to WWE Monday Night Raw on USA Network.
The league executive has decided to give away $1 million of his own money each week to wrestling fans who register, in advance of the telecasts, at WWE.com.
At a press conference in Los Angeles, populated by fans alerted by WWE on the Internet, McMahon said he'd continue the stunt "as long as I like." To see photos of the festivities, click on this online photo gallery.
The giveaway could be to one fan per telecast, or to four winners netting $250,000 apiece. Viewers will have to tune in to see how he will disseminate the money, he said, and be by their phones when he calls out during the live telecasts.
USA's executive vice president of marketing and digital brand media Chris McCumber said the promotion, plus the recent debut of USA's latest series, In Plain Sight, provides a powerful "one-two punch" for the cable network, which traditionally takes advantage of the summer months—when broadcast series have concluded—to debut new products.
The network is moving ahead with the promotion now, although McCumber notes it will face stiff competition from the National Basketball Association finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.
"When (McMahon) called us (with the promotion), we said 'We're 100% behind you'," the cable marketer said.
The promotion was announced one week after Monday Night Raw earned one of its lowest ratings, on May 26, in the series' history. However, McCumber said the series is still strong in the 25-54 demo, and that numbers for that segment are stronger than last Memorial Day.
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YES ANY ONE CAN USE THE MONEY.. BUT I HAVE GROWEN UP WACTHING THE WWE..BUT WHEN IT WAS WWF....I RECALL WHEN SEAN MILKELES FRIST CAME . BACK WHEN SAT NIGHTS MAIN EVENTS.ALSO GRILA MONSOUN AND LORD AFREID HAES .HOSTED FRIDAY NIGHTS.. WHEN MONCHO MAN ...WHORE HULK WHO IN HIS ..DRESS UP... TO NAME OTHERS J.Y.D. HOT ROD,IRON SHEIK,HILL BILLY JIM,JAKE THE SNAKE,BRET HAERT,BURSTIS BEEF CAKE,GREG THE HAMMER,KING KONG BUNDY,AND THE MOON DOGS,I COULD GO ON ALL NIGHT,,OLE WHAT ABOUT PAUL ORINDROFF,THE MILLOIN DOLLAR MAN TED DEDEASIE? MY SPELLING STINKS BUT I AM A TRUE FAN.... MOST OF ALL HOW IS VINCE DOING SCREW THE MONEY!!!!! I HOPE THAT HE IS FINE AND DOING WELL.....ALWAYS A TRUE FAN CAMERON J. STONE 10/16/1973
CAMERON JAMES STONE - 6/29/2008 7:06:00 PM EDT -
i could used the money
JEWEL FRANCIE DICKEN - 6/6/2008 12:25:00 PM EDT -
i could used the money
jennifer trent - 6/6/2008 12:15:00 PM EDT -
i am 62 and i could used that much moneyfor bills and stuff
jewel dicken - 6/6/2008 12:02:00 PM EDT -
I would like to sign up for the contest
Debra Denise Chabolla - 6/5/2008 4:06:00 PM EDT
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