WWE released their financial report for the fourth quarter of 2017 today.
Here are their highlights or you can view the full report at the link above.
Fourth-Quarter 2017 Highlights
• Revenue increased 9% to $211.6 million as compared to the prior year quarter
• Operating income was $27.0 million. Adjusted OIBDA reached $34.8 million, which was in line with guidance
• WWE Network’s average paid subscribers increased to 1.48 million during the fourth quarter 2017, consistent with the Company’s guidance
• Celebrated the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw in January 2018; SmackDown surpassed 950 episodes and remained the second longest running episodic program in history (behind only Raw)
• Formed partnerships to create content across platforms, including the series Mixed Match Challenge which streams live on Facebook Watch, Miz & Mrs. which will air on USA, as well as virtual reality experiences from select 2018 special events available on a new WWE channel within the NextVR app
Full Year 2017 Highlights
• Revenue increased 10% to $801.0 million, the highest in the Company’s history
• Operating income increased 36% to $75.6 million. Adjusted OIBDA increased 40% to $111.9 million, which
was within the range of Company guidance and represented all-time record performance• Supporting the global reach of WWE content, completed multi-year distribution agreements in France, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa among other countries and regions
• Digital engagement continued to grow with video views up 32% to 20 billion and social media engagements up 4% to approximately 1.2 billion from the prior year
• WWE’s YouTube channel remained the #1 most viewed Sports Channel and the 2nd most viewed channel on YouTube with 20 billion lifetime views (as of January 31, 2018)
• Demonstrated strength in consumer products with the #1 selling action figure property in the U.S. ahead of Star Wars and Marvel Avengers
• Forbes named WrestleMania as one of the world’s top 10 most valuable sports event brands for the fourth year in a row, alongside the Super Bowl, Olympics, FIFA World Cup and NCAA Men’s Final Four