The Rolling Stones’ Dec. 15 pay-per-view concert served up some performance satisfaction for cable and satellite distributors, who hope the event will usher in similar non-sports pay events in 2013.
While cable operators and event distributor WWE said it was too early to provide specifi c buy-rate and revenue projections for the concert, industry executives said the concert revenue was pacing above expectations despite a crowded December PPV event schedule that featured a Manny Pacquiao- Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match on Dec. 1 and the WWE’s own Tables, Ladders and Chairs wrestling event on Dec. 16.
A successful non-sports event typically generates anywhere from 50,000 to 200,000 buys.
An In Demand executive said the PPV event aggregation company was “pleased” with the preliminary returns for the Stones concert. The early numbers were encouraging given that the event was the last of a well-publicized, five-concert, 50th-anniversary tour. The Stones also performed two songs on free TV three days earlier as part of the “12-12-12” concert for Sandy relief at Madison Square Garden.
DirecTV officials described the concert as “moderately successful” compared with recent non-sports PPV events. The satellite distributor added that it hopes the Stones concert will stimulate more opportunities in the music and entertainment PPV space in 2013.
Within PPV circles people are already talking about a potential spring concert event featuring hip-hop performer Snoop Dogg, as well as a potential event surrounding former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson’s one-man Broadway show.
WWE is also looking to strike future chords within the genre.
“WWE thoroughly enjoyed working with [concert producer] Virgin Live, and we look forward to working with them on future musicrelated pay-per-views,” Michelle Wilson, WWE chief marketing officer, said.
