More WWE First Quarter Financials: PPV Down, TV Rights Up

Here are more on the WWE financials that came out today?

* One thing to keep in mind with the results for the quarter is that WrestleMania is counted in quarter two this year, last year it was in quarter one.

* Revenues from our Live and Televised Entertainment businesses were $70.4 million for the current quarter as compared to $98.2 million in the prior year quarter. That is a 28% drop from last year at this time.

* Business in North America is down to $89.7 million, this time last year it was $106.9 million.

* Live Event revenues were $19.6 million as compared to $26.0 million in the prior year.

* There were 77 total events during the current quarter as compared to 75 events in the prior year quarter.

* North American events generated $17.4 million of revenues from 73 events as compared to $23.5 million from 71 events in the prior year quarter. North American average attendance decreased 21% to approximately 6,400 from 8,100 in the prior year quarter.

* International events generated approximately $2.2 million of revenues as compared to $2.5 million in the prior year based on the performance of four events in each quarter. International average attendance decreased 26% to 8,400 from 11,300 in the prior year quarter due, in part, to changes in territory mix. Average ticket prices were $48.88 as compared to $51.37 in the prior year quarter, a 5% decrease.

* Television Rights Fees revenues were $31.6 million as compared to $29.4 million in the prior year quarter.

* Venue Merchandise revenues were $4.5 million as compared to $6.5 million in the prior year quarter.

* WWE Classics on Demand? revenues were $1.1 million as compared to $1.3 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to a decline in domestic subscribers.

* Home Video net revenues were $8.1 million as compared to $7.6 million in the prior year quarter.

* Licensing revenues were $23.9 million as compared to $19.9 million in the prior year quarter.

* Magazine Publishing net revenues were $2.2 million as compared to $2.8 million in the prior year

* WWE.com revenues were $2.7 million as compared to $3.4 million in the prior year quarter

* WWEShop revenues were $3.4 million as compared to $3.0 million in the prior year

* WWE Studios recognized revenue of $8.6 million as compared to $3.4 million in the prior year

* The 2011 WWE Royal Rumble PPV did 446,000 buys. This is down from last year's 462,000 buys; a difference of 16,000 buys.

* The 2011 WWE Elimination Chamber PPV did 199,000 buys. This is down from last year's 285,000 buys; a difference of 86,000 buys.

* PPV buys for the two PPVs are down 102,000 buys.

* WrestleMania was in the first quarter last year, and did 885,000 buys.