The new contracts will see WWE coverage available on terrestrial broadcasters for the first time in each country.
In Germany, WWE has signed a deal with Tele5, the new free-to-air broadcaster which is part of the Telemunchen Group and currently has a reach of 29 million homes in the country, for coverage of the 'WWE SmackDown!' show.
This new broadcast partnership runs alongside the renewal deal signed with pay-TV platform Premiere for five WWE shows, including 'WWE Raw', 'WWE Heat', 'WWE: The Bottom Line', 'WWE Velocity', and 'WWE Confidential'. Additionally, the company has also launched pay-per-view on the Premiere platform with 12 events scheduled through 2003.
Fuji TV, the Japanese free-to-air broadcaster, has also acquired the 'WWE SmackDown!' show in the first terrestrial deal signed in the country for WWE coverage.
Continuing to build upon the success of the brand on pay-TV platform JSkySports in recent years, WWE has also renewed a 10-hour per week 3-year deal with eight of its leading titles, including 'WWE Raw', 'WWE SmackDown!', 'WWE Heat', and 'WWE Velocity'.
Additionally in Japan, WWE just launched PPV in the market with Sky Perfect.
Comments Andrew Whitaker, senior vice president and managing director, international television for WWE: "Our new terrestrial deals in Germany and Japan complement and greatly enhance our existing output deals on the pay-TV platforms in each of those territories.
"We have a branded television product that generates a worldwide presence, and we are confident we will further enhance our brand with additional sales at MIP."
The deals were signed through rights agency Total Sports Asia.
World Wrestling Entertainment has increased its global reach after signing TV rights deals in Germany and Japan.
