A Chinese WWE Commentator?, JBL, Pacman/NFL, RAW, & More

The following was issued by WWE on Thursday:

STAMFORD, Conn., December 18, 2007 ? As part of its planned business expansion into Latin America, World Wrestling Entertainment will be conducting two major live event tours in support of its television partners in the region. In February, the WWE? Superstars of SmackDown? and ECW? will make their return to Guatemala City, Guatemala on February 9, at Forum Mundo E at 8:00 p.m., and Guadalajara, Mexico on February 10, at VFG Arena at 6:30 p.m. WWE programming can be seen on Channels 3 & 13 and FX: Fox Latin American Channel in Guatemala, and in Mexico on MX52 and FX: Fox Latin American Channel.

The tour also will mark the debut of live events Quito, Ecuador on February 12, at Coliseo Ruminahui at 8:00 p.m. and Santiago, Chile on February 14, at Arena Santiago at 8:00 p.m. WWE programming in Ecuador can be seen on Telemazonas Teve, and in Chile on Chilevision and FX: Fox Latin American Channel.

A second tour is being planned for later this year, and is expected to include WWE's first live event performances in Brazil. WWE will launch television programming Sistema Brasileiro de Televis?o (SBT) this January.

"We are excited about performing live events in 2008 for our many WWE fans across Latin America," said Carl DeMarco, WWE President, Latin America. "WWE live events are an amazing experience, and we look forward to thrilling our fans with our live events in 2008."

WWE is the world's pre-eminent sports entertainment company offering a unique format that combines unparalleled athleticism and the entertainment of larger than life characters and soap opera-like storylines. WWE has been involved in the sports entertainment business for 25 years and has developed into one of the most popular forms of global entertainment today. Millions of fans around the world tune in every week to witness the most exciting television programs on the planet. WWE programs are broadcast in 22 languages to more than 130 countries around the world. Its website, WWE.com, attracts a global audience of up to 17 million unique visitors per month. These visitors viewed an average exceeding 29 million video streams per month. There is nothing like experiencing a WWE performance live. WWE live events are frequently filled with exciting matches and memorable moments. WWE Superstars always amaze audiences with their unparalleled athleticism and their unbridled charisma. WWE brings the greatest spectacle on television to live, up close and personal. In 2006, WWE held 346 live events, including 61 international events, entertaining more than two million fans. WWE plans to establish a multi media platform approach in Latin America ? television, live events, publishing, licensing, consumer products, mobile and Web applications. WWE is in the process of establishing a new office in Sao Paulo from which it will handle all business initiatives in Brazil, as well as initial plans for expansion in Argentina, Mexico and Chile.

NBC Universal sent out the following press release on Thursday:

BURBANK, Calif. – December 20, 2007 – The NBC Universal Entertainment Cable Networks, USA Network, SCI FI Channel and Bravo, have all delivered record-breaking ratings results in 2007, making NBC Universal Cable the number one entertainment cable group in average primetime viewership among key demos (excluding Oxygen which was acquired by the group in late November 2007). The NBC Universal Entertainment Cable Group set the pace in 2007, averaging 712,000 adults 18-49 and 736,000 adults 25-54 in primetime through December 9 to top all other cable entertainment groups*.

The announcement was made by Jeff Gaspin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group. "NBC Universal Cable has some of the strongest brands in television and we are experiencing great momentum," said Gaspin. "Whether it's USA essentially being the fifth broadcast network, SCI FI's record-breaking mini-series or Bravo's growing upscale audience, we are providing advertisers with more and more opportunities to reach consumers through first-rate content."

The NBC Entertainment Cable Group generated increases versus its 2006 results, growing by +5.4% among P18-49 and increasing by +4.2% among P25-54 in primetime. The group has now delivered year-to-year 18-49 and 25-54 gains during all four years since the NBC/Universal merger created the group in 2004. For the 2007 year through December 9, the NBC Universal Entertainment Cable Group is averaging 736,000 adult 25-54 viewers in primetime, up +4.2% versus the 2006 average of 707,000 and #1 among ad-supported entertainment cable groups ahead of #2 Turner (683,000).

WWE.com has an article looking back at JBL's career.

WWE is looking for a Chinese commentator that can speak Madarin Chinese and English. They want someone who is between the ages of 20 and 50, male or female. This is not for the SD! position.

The NFL players' union has appealed the season-long suspension of Adam "Pacman" Jones, saying the punishment is excessive.