Mark the date down in your calendar, November 19th 2014 the
day that all us TNA fans had been waiting, rather impatiently, for has
arrived..............TNA HAS A NEW US TV DEAL!! Yes after all the months of
speculation and uncertainty, which included the rumours that TNA was done for
as a company, TNA programming will be on US TV in 2015. Okay so maybe I am
getting a little too excited but no matter how you look at it, this is good
news for everyone and especially for the wrestling business.
Now obviously there are some drawbacks to this deal, the
fact that it has taken so long, bare in mind TMZ broke the story about TNA and
Spike back on 27th July earlier this year. At the time both Spike
and TNA claimed that negotiations were ongoing however it soon became obvious
that the relationship between the pair had soured.
In the meantime other TV networks were connected with TNA
such as WGN America but the rumours would soon die down. Velocity, which is
part of Discovery Communications, was also being mentioned as a possible home.
However by mid-November the secret was out and everyone pretty much assumed
that Impact would be going to Destination America and by November 19th
it was made official.
Word had already gone out earlier in the day when TNA
wrestlers and talent were informed that Dixie Carter would be holding a
conference call and that a major announcement was expected. Dixie then took to
Twitter where she said that there would be an announcement regarding TNA’s
future and then the tweet that we had all been waiting for. At 17:47pm GMT
Dixie sent out the tweet that as of January 2015 TNA Impact will be on
Destination America.
So let’s take a look at TNA Impact’s new home and obviously
there are some draw backs to the new deal and network. Destination America as
part of Discovery communications is only available in around 59.6 million homes
nationwide in the US which is about 52% of households with Television. The
channel is available via most cable television providers across the US such as
DISH, DirectTV and Comcast however with Comcast, subscribers must have the
Digital Preferred package. That alone may prove troublesome to fans who want to
watch Impact.
The channel has also undergone several rebranding’s since it
launched in 1996, originally called Discovery Travel and Leisure, then onto
Discovery Home and Leisure before becoming Discovery Home and then onto Planet
Green. That’s a total of 5 names in just 18 years which is a hell of a lot and
shows a fair level of instability. Granted that may well be something that TNA
is used to but still it may be some cause for concern. After the Hulk Hogan and
Eric Bischoff failure, the Vince Russo and TV deal sagas this year TNA should
aim to steady the ship in 2015. The last thing the company needs is anymore
instability. If the name of the channel keeps changing may this confuse fans as
to what channel Impact is on and indeed present TNA as small time?
Also the number of homes cannot be ignored, just 59.6
million, that is close to 40 million less homes than what Spike TV is available
in which is a huge drop in availability and visibility for TNA and Impact. Also
it has to be assumed that the $ amount is less than what Spike was paying as
well, I appreciate that no financial information has been released yet but that
has to be safe assumption.
Let’s not forget as well TNA’s penchant for hiring ex WWE
performers, being on a much smaller network may well dissuade talents from
signing with the promotion. If a performer is going to be on TV then chances
are they will want maximum coverage, can TNA really promise that on a network
that only covers just over half of the US? Not that TNA should sign all ex WWE
performers but in the cases of Kurt Angle, EC3 and Bram the company has shown
that sometimes WWE are too hasty in pulling the trigger. If WWE were to have
another clear out, like they did last summer, then TNA needs to be in a
position to capitalise on any talent they may want to acquire.
Let’s not forget though that the new TV deal is positive
news and could potentially be very good for TNA in the long run. If for example
TNA was still able to draw its 1 million or so viewers then it would be deemed
a great success still pulling the same number amongst a smaller possible
audience. Then there is the chance of more programming, in the statement
regarding the deal this was mentioned “The partnership includes the U.S.
premieres of additional TNA WRESTLING series and specials.” That would have
been a big thing during negotiations as Dixie Carter said herself back in
September “(TNA will) die a slow death on the vine if we just stay as one
two-hour show in the U.S.”
In a sense I do see why TNA would want additional
programming as it would maybe allow them to slow Impact down or devote a show
to the X Division or the Knockouts. Anything that would be deemed fresh
programming and is different to anything that WWE is doing can only be seen as
a positive step forwards for TNA. If TNA can get more things right it may very
well push WWE to up their game, both companies have copied each other in the
past and if both can push the other to improve then it will be us wrestling
fans who truly benefit the most.
Going on the assumption that the deal is worth less money
than what Spike were paying TNA again doesn’t necessarily have to be a
negative. Of course less money isn’t good but it’s worth remembering that TNA
has a far smaller wage budget than the company had in 2013. Without the likes
of Hulk Hogan, Sting and Eric Bischoff on the payroll it may well transpire
that TNA has more money to utilise. Maybe utilise towards striking talent
partnerships with other promotions like ROH or maybe some in Britain? Failing
that TNA could invest into the X Division or increase production values?
Another angle to look at is will TNA be considered as the
big fish in a little pond on Destination America? While the company always
produced good ratings for Spike they were never what Spike truly wanted to
promote, maybe on the new network it will be other shows that have to promote
TNA rather than TNA promoting Bellator or whatever Spike’s flavour of the month
was. Without the restrictions of having to promote other shows and superfluous
MMA athletes Impact may very well become a better and more consistent show.
Spike have announced that they will cease airing TNA as of
December 24th which will be the last telecast and TNA have the
Manhattan Centre in New York booked for early January so in theory TNA will be
off TV for roughly 2 weeks over the Christmas and new year. While being off TV
at any point is not good the timing could be worse, TNA will be absent at a
time when the majority of people are busy with family and celebrations.
It could well transpire that TNA return with a live Impact
which would be most recommended and moreover implement their game plan. TNA
have a total of 7 weeks roughly until they are in Manhattan, it would be my
suggestion that in that time John Gaburick and his team sit down and formulate
a long term strategy for the promotion.
While there can be no doubt that the shows post Dixie going
through the table have been entertaining, there is simply no longevity in a
week to week wrestling show. If TNA truly want to grow their fan base then they
need to give fans a real reason to tune in, make each Impact unmissable, that
will only be achieved when fans feel invested. No fan will invest in a series
of No1 contender matches followed by the title match next week.
Now is the time to invest in the future of TNA the fans have
been patient, have mostly stayed with the product and will, if possible, follow
the promotion to the new channel. There is genuine optimism about TNA as Dixie
Carter herself quoted to the press “We are very excited about Destination
America being the new network for IMPACT WRESTLING and the partnership with
Discovery Communications both domestically and across the globe. Their
commitment to promote and grow our brand in innovative and compelling ways was
instrumental in knowing we had found the right home.”
Dixie is right to be excited and so are the fans, after so
many false starts over the last 12 years let’s hope this really is a new
beginning for TNA.
By Mark Moore
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