WWF expands PPV theatre network

TORONTO - World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its Pay-Per-View Theatre network to meet the demand for WrestleMania X8. On Sunday March 17, 2002, twelve new theatre locations will broadcast World Wrestling Federation Pay-Pay-View events to major cities across Canada.

Starting with WrestleMania X8 this weekend, World Wrestling Federation Pay-Per-View events will be available live on the big screen, at even more theatre locations with 3 new Famous Players Theatre locations, 3 new Galaxy Theatre locations (including two theatres already showing WWF Pay-Per-View events), 2 Cineplex Odeon Theatre locations, Empire Theatres, Landmark Cinemas, Gallery Cinemas and Carnival Cinemas. The addition of these new theatre locations will expand the availability of these events to previously unserved markets.

Terry Snazel, Vice-President, Technology for Bell ExpressVu, feels that using the latest in Direct Broadcast Satellite technology allows people attending the closed-circuit events the nearest experience to actually being there. ÒBell ExpressVu is able to broadcast WWFE events, providing crisp, clear video and audio transmission to participating theatres throughout Canada. WeÕre proud of our ability to deliver an excellent program signal to theatres for World Wrestling Federation fans everywhere to enjoy, and at the same time give them the chance to see their heroes compete up close.Ó

Carl DeMarco, President of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Canada, Inc. notes that ÒThe success we have had in bringing our live Pay-Per- View events to movie screens across this country has helped revolutionize the use of theatre screens. Theatres can now offer their clients a wide range of entertainment properties. We are thrilled that World Wrestling Federation Entertainment could popularize this concept in Canada, and we welcome the new partners who are joining our network of monthly theatrical Pay-Per-View events, as we host WrestleMania X8 in Canada.Ó

Since January 2000, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Canada, Inc. in partnership with Famous PlayersÕ Theatres and Bell ExpressVu, has successfully exhibited WWFE closed-circuit Pay-Per-View events on a monthly basis. This new agreement brings the total number of Famous Players Theatres across Canada that now exhibit World Wrestling Federation Pay Per View events to 37. In total, 47 theatres across Canada will broadcast WrestleMania X8 this weekend.

The new locations include:

Famous Players Theatres

- SilverCity Yonge & Eglinton in Toronto, Ontario.

- SilverCity Richmond Hill, Ontario

- SilverCity St. Catharines, Ontario.

Galaxy Cinemas

- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

- Nanaimo, BC

- Rockforest, Quebec

- in addition to their existing Peterborough and Waterloo, Ontario locations.

Cineplex Odeon Cinemas

- Barrie, Ontario

- Niagara Falls, Ontario

Empire Theatres

- Halifax, NS

Landmark Cinemas

- Paramount Theatre in Kelowna, BC

Carnival Cinemas

- Red Deer, Alberta

List of Participating Famous Players Theatres:

Coliseum Calgary Alberta Paramount Calgary Alberta

SilverCity Country Hills Alberta

SilverCity West Edmonton Mall Alberta

SilverCity Metropolis British Columbia

SilverCity Coquitlam British Columbia

SilverCity Guildford British Columbia

Colossus Langley British Columbia

SilverCity Mission British Columbia

SilverCity Riverport British Columbia

SilverCity Victoria at Tillicum Centre British Columbia

SilverCity Polo Park Manitoba

SilverCity Ancaster Ontario

SilverCity Brampton Ontario

SilverCity Gloucester Ontario

SilverCity Kitchener Ontario

SilverCity London Ontario

Coliseum Mississauga Ontario

SilverCity Newmarket Ontario

SilverCity North York at Empress Walk Ontario

Oshawa Centre 8 Ontario

Coliseum Ottawa Ontario

Coliseum Scarborough Ontario

SilverCity Sudbury Ontario

SilverCity Thunder Bay Ontario

Colossus Toronto Ontario

Paramount Toronto Ontario

SilverCity Windsor Ontario

SilverCity Hull Quebec

Coliseum Kirkland Quebec

Colossus Laval Quebec

Paramount Montreal Quebec

StarCite Montreal Quebec

SilverCity Ste. Foy Quebec

New Locations

Famous Players SilverCity Richmond Hill Ontario

Famous Players SilverCity St. Catharines Ontario

Famous Players SilverCity Yonge & Eglinton (Toronto) Ontario

Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo Ontario

Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough Ontario

Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie Ontario

Galaxy Cinemas Nanaimo British Columbia

Galaxy Cinemas Rockforest Quebec

Cineplex Barrie Ontario

Cineplex Niagara Falls Ontario

Gallery Cinemas Woodstock Ontario

Carnival Cinemas - Red Deer Alberta

Empire Theatres Halifax Nova Scotia

Landmark Cinemas - Kelowna British Columbia

-- SLAM! Wrestling News Wire.