TNA Announce Two-Year Extension with Spike TV; Additional Programming Possible

[It's Damn Real!]

@TNADixie:

Thrilled to announce a new, multi year deal today for Spike TV to remain the home of IMPACT Wrestling. http://t.co/hfhEcAxS

http://www.multichannel.com/article/482755-TNA_Re_Ups_With_Spike.php

Pro wrestling outfit TNA Entertainment has pinned down a multi-year extension with Spike Tv that could include additional television projects beyond its weekly Impact Wrestling series, according to Dixie Carter, TNA Entertainment president.

Spike, which debuted TNA programming in 2005, will remain the exclusive home for TNA programming - including the wrestling company's Thursday night weekly series Impact Wrestling -- as part of the deal.

Terms of agreement were not disclosed.

TNA's Impact Wrestling has delivered strong viewership ratings for Spike over the past seven years. The series, which features such wrestlers as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Sting, James Storm and Rob Van Dam, is averaging 1.7 million viewers thus far in 2012, ranking it among the male-targeted network's most watched series.

Update:

http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/TNA/article10024437.shtml

By Jason Powell

The new deal between TNA and Spike TV is a two-year agreement.

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This'll be my buddy Rayne's forté, so I'll let him handle the nitty gritty details, but I find it difficult to see how this is a bad thing when Spike has been the home for TNA for some time now and is the channel's highest rated episodic program. Good business for Spike to retain it's best drawing promotion and good business for TNA to continue to brand themselves with a channel people will remember them by.

Thoughts?

 

[neildittmar]

Given the facts, it would be much more surprising if Spike wasn't interested in resigning an agreement with TNA. I would think Spike would be interested in keeping its highest rated episodic program right where its at.

I think the real story here is that it's a multi-year agreement, which shows both current and future confidence by Spike in TNA. That is, Spike expects TNA to at least maintain the same numbers it has been doing for the network and more likely, expects them to grow over time. It also shows that TNA was hitting (or coming close to) Spikes targets from when contracts were negotiated the last time around.

Again, you don't renew something (especially for multiple years) if you feel it's not producing what it should or could.

I'd be interested to know precisely how many years the agreement was renewed for. Something like 2 or 3 still supports a positive outlook for both the company and its programming on Spike. A 5 or 10 year extension shows great confidence in the product by the network and its ability to grow.

Overall it's simply a matter of determining exactly how good this is for TNA, not if it's good.

 

[Lowdown]

Good for TNA. But as far as another TNA based program in the future they need to be reminded of what happened to ReAction. Now if they want to produce another wrestling based show, like maybe TNA Saturday Night or something, then I'm all for it. That doesn't mean it will happen. I am curious like mentioned just how long this multi-year deal is for.

 

[wrestlemaniac]

maybe it's just me...but i've been hoping they'd move from spike to a channel available in more areas of the country since spike tv isnt available everywhere. would def help ratings while increasing exposure a bit. another thing that bugs me is the little snips the edint out whenn it comes to "man on women violence" i mean ffs man what roode was doing to dixie was nowhere near violent...not saying they should've showed the whole thing but i mean they could have gotten better clips. i for one am tired of spike

 

[Rayne]

I gotta say... curious as hell to know what the terms of this deal are. There are a few conclusions you can draw from this piece of news, but not many without specifics.

First, it's not surprising that TNA/IW and SpikeTV will be together for at least a few more years. That could have been assumed even without knowing their deal was coming up soon. TNA/IW and Spike are like a college couple who share the same nasty STD's. They've got their reasons for being together, but a big reason for them not being apart is because it'd be really hard for them to find somewhere else to go. Like that couple, they aren't particularly fond of each other anymore, but are still together because it's still mutually beneficial for both. The money terms of the deal, holy Jesus I wish I could know those, because that would tell us everything about the status of this relationship.

Next, don't hold your breath on another TNA/IW television show. This was a really good opportunity to announce something if it was in the works. It's not "the" opportunity- keep in mind these guys get two hours of television a week where they communicate directly to their audience- but I think if SpikeTV had wanted to sound a very loud note of confidence in the future of TNA/IW, this would have been the network's best opportunity to. It could happen, sure, but I'd be very surprised if it was anytime soon.

It's a continuation of the status quo, for now. With the results that TNA/IW's been offering lately, which certainly aren't what they were telling Spike brass two years ago, that's really the best they can hope for.

 

[Maestro48239]

Awesome news!!!! I personally hope they start another show, because right now, 2 hours a week isnt nearly enough time to push all the storylines. I'm not saying RAW and Smackdown type of shows, but Impact and maybe an hour on the weekends to show off lesser used talent and pushing the smaller storylines.

 

[Rayne]

Wish like hell I could edit this into my last post, but yup, two years is right around what I was thinking. (My guess was a two or three year deal.) A one-year deal would be like saying "look, we need you, but we're totally not trying to be committed." You might as well tell TNA/IW that you think their product sucks. A five-year deal is a bit much to ask for given TNA/IW's lack of expected achievement. A two-year deal keeps them committed to SpikeTV, but doesn't force anyone's hand in the future.

And holy Jesus I wish I knew the specific terms, which would tell us so much more about the Spike/TNA relationship.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Are they buying out Hogan's contract?

I mean, this is good in that it keeps another option open for some people to work in a televised setting in the wrestling industry, but this doesn't make me care any less about TNA. I'm not really sure what they could do for me to think their product is worth two hours of my time.

 

[The Marauder]

Are they buying out Hogan's contract?

I mean, this is good in that it keeps another option open for some people to work in a televised setting in the wrestling industry, but this doesn't make me care any less about TNA. I'm not really sure what they could do for me to think their product is worth two hours of my time.

Well, TNA doesn't care for you neither. Complaints forum is on another page, eggplant.

Now, with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling moving to great direction, I think some more deep talents from OVW is coming, improving storytelling, and upgrading production values. Plus additional programs; maybe Xplosion or rebirth of reaction. (Maybe in a different timeslot.)

Not bad TNA. Not bad at all.

 

[Olan]

CONGRATS to TNA and the wrestlers. say what you want about the suits but the wrestlers deserve this IMO.

Now as for other programs, I wish they would do another show. maybe one focused on the X Division and the Knockouts while still weaving those stories into IMPACT. Or a TNA SATURDAY NIGHT was a good idea that someone mentioned

 

[shattered dreams]

Next, don't hold your breath on another TNA/IW television show. This was a really good opportunity to announce something if it was in the works. It's not "the" opportunity- keep in mind these guys get two hours of television a week where they communicate directly to their audience- but I think if SpikeTV had wanted to sound a very loud note of confidence in the future of TNA/IW, this would have been the network's best opportunity to. It could happen, sure, but I'd be very surprised if it was anytime soon.

I think Lockdown would arguably be the best opportunity and that seems to be what they are headed for. Whether that means an actual additional show or something like traveling more remains to be seen. I don't know that I think another wrestling show is the best idea but I could see merit in additional programming using their talent. Maybe merge ReAction and Xplosion into one show and film those few matches at the impactzone and then take Impact on the road. If they get any additional programming out of Spike it will definitely be nice for TNA financially. Bischoff seems to have a pretty good relationship with Spike. I'd be surprised if he didn't get at least one more shot at a new wrestling oriented program of some sort out of this deal.