WWE Pins Down Broadband Deals

Stamford, Conn.— Several MSOs will roll out World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.’s broadband content to their high-speed Internet subscribers, the grappling group said.

The company signed deals with Cox Communications Inc., Blue Ridge Communications and Click! Network last week. In addition to broadband content, the connections should help promote the company’s “WWE 24/7” subscription video-on-demand service.

The promotional content includes games and other features. Subscribers can test their pro-wrestling prowess through trivia, puzzles and dexterity challenges, with titles like WWE Crossword Challenge, Superstar Squares, Memory Mania and Ten Count Video Trivia. WWE wrestlers are also profiled.

During February, WWE said, a text-based trivia game on its Web site generated 1.2 million unique visitors.

“We know there is a huge universe of interactive wrestling fans,” WWE Enterprises senior vice president Tom Barreca said in a statement. “Downstream, we believe this killer promotional WWE 24/7 content should lead to other free-standing broadband and ITV projects and services that our fans can play and use through next-generation set-top boxes and other devices.”