WWE Dives into Social Media to Promote WrestleMania
(SPORTS TECHNOLOGY)
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube (News - Alert) are hands down three of the largest social networks on the Web. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is one of the most socially adept entertainment brands in sports right now, and it only intends to progress in that area with this year’s WrestleMania event.
Live streams of the pay-per-view event will make their way to YouTube and Facebook (News - Alert), as well as the WWE homepage – bringing it more publicity than ever before.
Through Twitter (News - Alert), fan-submitted questions will be addressed by wrestling celebrities while The Rock, John Cena and Mike Tyson battle it out with hashtags. It has also been announced that WWE stars will share media in more of an informal manner throughout the event.
"We've noticed in some of the higher profile sports and entertainment events that the Social TV experience tended to be limited to pre-show activities,” said Jason Hoch, WWE’s vice president of digital operations. “Sports stars and that true 'social' experience direct from the athlete to the fan disappear once the big game is live. We want to change that approach with this year's WrestleMania."
Wrestling fans are encouraged to take part in the “hashtag battle” in support of their favorite wrestler, using the hashtags “#Cenation” for John Cena and “#TeamBrintIt” for The Rock.
Aside from its popularity on Twitter, WWE weighs in at second place on Facebook, right behind the NBA. Based in Miami, webisodes from Triple H, The Rock and The Undertaker will air on its YouTube channel starting Friday.
Undisputed heavyweight-boxing champion Mike Tyson will assume the role of social media ambassador for the event, sending out tweets from WrestleMania and a Hall of Fame induction ceremony later that evening.
Hoch noted the significance of writers, produces, marketers and technical staff for the event stating, "To truly pay off this type of real-time experience, all members of the WWE team need to be involved, and have a stake in the results. It's about making the investment to go 'all in' and offer something compelling, anytime, anywhere."
Edited by Braden Becker
