WWE is clearing its last major hurdle for the WWE Network and will be launching in China for the first time ever on Friday, August 18.
The launch of the service comes in association with PPTV, the WWE broadcast partner in the country. PPTV customers can download the PPTV App and watch WWE Network content via smart TVs, set-top boxes, mobile devices and tablets, as well as on www.wwe.cn, www.PPTV.com and www.Sports.PPTV.com.
“When we began our exclusive partnership with WWE, we brought WWE’s signature programming, Raw and SmackDown, to PPTV and received a great response from WWE fans in China,” said Godfrey Zeng, Executive Vice President of Suning Sports Media, parent company of PPTV. “In April, we offered WrestleMania as a pay-per-view event, and again, our fans responded enthusiastically. We are now launching WWE Network on PPTV and presenting the entire lineup of WWE pay-per-views and other premium content to continue to better serve WWE fans in China.”
WWE Network on PPTV will showcase WWE’s major live events and groundbreaking original series, including NXT and 205 Live; reality shows, such as Total Divas; documentaries; and classic matches from WWE’s storied history. PPTV will continue to expand WWE Network’s video-on-demand library, adding more than 1,000 hours of content over the next 12 months.
In addition to offering WWE Network as a subscription service, PPTV will also offer its customers premium live events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, as well as other WWE Network Specials on a pay-per-view basis.
“PPTV is a tremendous partner, and has been key in helping us engage with WWE fans in China and further establishing our brand in this important market,” said Michelle Wilson, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, WWE. “With this launch, WWE Network is now available in every market, reaching more than 180 countries around the world, delivering all our premium live events and an archive of action-packed, family-friendly entertainment that has thrilled WWE audiences for years.”
