WWE Studios is getting into the TV and digital content business

In a story first announced by Deadline, WWE Studios is set to broaden its scope beyond motion pictures and will begin producing “scripted, non-scripted, family and animated television and digital content”.

Even aside from their wrestling/sports entertainment staples like Raw and SmackDown, the Stamford-based company already does some of this with shows like Total Divas, programs for their streaming WWE Network and numerous online ventures. It’s not clear if any new shows which result from this initiative will end up on the Network, but you’d have to think that would be a possibility.

Coverage of the announcement at PWInsider mentions two shows that are already in the pipeline, The Miz and Maryse reality show The It Couple and a Tough Enough/Diva Search-type competition where women would travel together by bus, taking part in various challenges while trying to earn a WWE contract.

The press release, which follows, also mentions other WWE Studios projects:

WWE Studios goes multiplatform

WWE announced that WWE Studios, the organization’s motion picture production arm, will expand its mandate to include scripted, non-scripted, family and animated television and digital content.

Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios, will continue to oversee the studio and the new television and digital directive, and the Studio will be represented by global talent agency WME in these endeavors.

“Given the size of our fan base and their appetite for WWE programming well beyond our core in-ring shows Monday Night Raw and SmackDown LIVE, this is the ideal time to further establish the WWE brand with new genres across platforms,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “WWE Studios is open for business with this new TV and digital initiative.”

"Our new expanded focus on television and digital continues to push WWE Studios as a multi-platform production company with the ability to create original content for global distribution, as we have successfully done for the big screen," said Michael Luisi, President WWE Studios. "We look forward to identifying key partners to work alongside us while creating opportunities to use our on-screen WWE talent in new and exciting ways."

WWE has already seen success with hit shows Total Divas and Total Bellas on E!, and has a much-anticipated Andre the Giant documentary in partnership with HBO set to premiere in 2018. WWE Studios has produced movies such as “The Call” and “The Marine” franchise, and has most recently teamed up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Film4 to produce the feature film “Fighting with My Family,” written and directed by Stephen Merchant (The Office, Hello Ladies), which MGM will distribute worldwide.

This seems to be a little more in line with WWE’s core business, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out for WWE Studios after 15 years in the movie game.