MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has extended its 10-year relationship with Sky Deutschland in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for another three years, taking the partnership through the end of 2013.
The renewal broadens their remit to include TV, digital and mobile platforms. WWE and Sky Deutschland began their relationship in 2000.
The new distribution agreement, starting this month, sees Sky Deutschland broadcasting RAW for the first time, as well as WWE’s 13 annual pay-per-views.
The deal also brings the rookie and Superstar show NXT and highlight shows, WWE Experience and AfterBurn, to Sky Deutschland’s more than 2.5 million homes across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For the first time ever, WWE’s weekly programmes will air in high definition on Sky Sports.
Sky Deutschland will also carry live broadcasts of the 13 WWE pay-per-view events annually on Sky Select, including perennial favourites WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series. These four WWE pay-per-view events on Sky Select will air live and in HD.
WWE executive VP of International Andrew Whitaker said, “This renewal will take WWE’s relationship with Sky Deutschland into its thirteenth year and is testament to the ever growing popularity of WWE in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We look forward to expanding the brand by delivering more content to our fans on the different platforms of Sky Deutschland.”
Sky Deutschland VP Sports Roman Steuer said, "The unique mixture of sport and entertainment is representative of Sky’s programming diversity and will be an important component of our high-value sports service in the future.”
