WWE has issued the following press release:
WWE® Reports Strong Fourth-Quarter Achieving Record Results for 2017
02/08/201
Fourth-Quarter 2017 Highlights
Revenue increased 9% to $211.6 million as compared to the prior year quarterOperating income was $27.0 million. Adjusted OIBDA1 reached $34.8 million, which was in line with guidanceWWE Network’s average paid subscribers2 increased to 1.48 million during the fourth quarter 2017, consistent with the Company’s guidanceCelebrated 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 historyOperating 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 performanceSupporting 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 regionsDigital 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 year3WWE’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 Avengers4Forbes 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
You can read the complete financial report on the next page.