TNA & Destination America: Is The Honeymoon Over Already?

[Jack-Hammer]

Aside from issues regarding paychecks being late, there are other reports floating about alleging that there's already tension between Destination America and TNA Wrestling. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter alleges that Destinatin America is calling a lot of the shots in TNA these days with the idea that they have just cause due to them paying TNA and running so many hours of their programming. One of the alleged "shots" said to have been called by the network is Kurt Angle becoming TNA World Heavyweight Champion again because they like the novelty of the champion on their network being an Olympic gold medalist. Network honchos are also said to be very high on Taryn Terrell due to her look as the sort of classic, All American blonde hottie.

The WON also alleges that executives for the network didn't especially care for TNA taping episodes of Impact Wrestling in the United Kingdom. Despite that Destination America executives know nothing about the pro wrestling business, they didn't like the idea of TV taped outside of America airing on their Destination America channel. Furthermore, the report states that while the network doesn't have any real issues with TNA running an overseas tour, they've made it clear that they want Impact Wrestling taped within the boundaries of the United States.

IF this is true, it MIGHT be a shadow of some negative things to come about somewhere down the line. The report gives the impression that network officials feel that they have a right to creative input and decisions despite knowing virtually nothing about the professional wrestling industry. Few things in life are more disastrous than someone who's a fool, but a fool with power and influence. We've seen at various times over the course of the past 25 years or so the dangers of people with no knowledge of the workings of wrestling or the minds of its fans and it never bodes well.

The way I see it is simple: Destination America is very much a nobody's nobody in television programming right now. Impact Wrestling is easily the biggest show the network has. Now while the numbers it draws might not exactly reach the stratosphere, they're still delivering consistent numbers that are bigger than anything else airing. As a result, executives should be happy, grateful, keep their mouths shut and stick to what they know.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

It's early, but I'd chalk this up to learning experience. Assuming it's all true, it tells me Destination America, who have no history with professional wrestling of any kind, have little to no idea how to handle it. They'll get the hang of it, and so will TNA with working with a brand new partner.

DA seems to be really invested in their new tent pole, and as such, are probably a little too hands-on. That's fine. They haven't made awful decisions just yet. So long as the product is still positive and generating interest and ratings continue to climb (albeit marginally), eventually the partnership will be more of a partnership and less of a new toy syndrome.

 

[Mustang Sally]

The report gives the impression that network officials feel that they have a right to creative input and decisions despite knowing virtually nothing about the professional wrestling industry.

While it's surely true that much of this can be attributed to growing pains, shouldn't this kind of thing have been spelled out contractually before the first program was aired? Surely, the experienced pro wrestling minds at TNA were aware of the tendency of those from outside the business wanting to add their own touches to the product, even when they had no idea what they were talking about.

It could be that TNA had become so desperate to find someone to broadcast their product that by the time they got together with Destination America, they were willing to sign almost anything to keep themselves on the air, hoping they could work out the details later.......and now that the deal is signed & delivered, they're finding out what they should have known all along.

 

[WhiplashUnited]

If Destination America want to know about how a network full of wrestling now-nothings shouldn't run a wrestling promotion they should look at how Turner tried to run WCW with guys who knew nothing about the wrestling industry.

Sure things like the nWo ended up dragging it down but the Turner Company's inability to know that they should put people with industry experience in there rather than who they ended up putting in there was a huge mistake.

Hopefully it's just growing pains but this smells so much like WCW you can almost taste Ric Flair's 'spilt liquor'

 

[Hem]

I think that the network feels like Impact owes them everything as they give those guys a home. That is a bit of a problem.

I think no business can run both effectively and efficently until both sides see eye to eye.

Destination America should see that Impact must be doing something right since it is giving them their highest rated program and Impact should consult the network on things to do and make sure the networks main interests are met.

With a mutual understand and freedom on both sides I feel that Impact Wrestling and Destination America can both take it to the next level.

On a side note I think it's important that TNA find more people to fund them or PR guys. Lately they have been in the news for bad media topics such as financial issues and what not.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

, it tells me Destination America, who have no history with professional wrestling of any kind, have little to no idea how to handle it. They'll get the hang of it, and so will TNA with working with a brand new partner.

.

Oh yea man, that sort of thing always works out.



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This is uh, very bad news. I hate to be one of "those" people but its just ANOTHER example of WCWish things happening to this brand.

One can only hope DA backs off, and lets the wrestling people worry about the wrestling show.


At least there will be GFW.

 

[Soulblazed]

Here's my take on this-If DA drops TNA sometime later this year, I see TNA & GFW partnering up so that way TNA can use GFW to survive, basically..I was thinking about this last year when Jarrett first announced the formation of GFW..My thought process then was that TNA's best bet for long-term survival as a company would be to partner up with Jarrett's GFW, hence they could exchange talent, run joint shows together, etc

To me that makes the most sense...Whenever TNA gets dropped by DA, TNA can then join up with GFW and go from there.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

TNA signed a two-year contract with DA, so I seriously doubt they're being dropped. I also seriously doubt they'll merge up with GFW considering it's still nothing more than promises sold with promises. Not to mention the fact Jarrett didn't exactly leave on great terms.

 

[ABMorales787]

GFW? Isn't that just Jeff Jarrett and a lighting guy?

But on the network front, I'm bordering on disgusted here. Why is it drawing such low ad rates when it's the top show on the network? Seriously, the next shows in the hierarchy are about FUCKING BIGFOOT. TNA has done absolutely nothing wrong here and are suffering for it. Fuck, their product has been its best in about 5 or 6 years. Lucha Underground seems to have a similar issue. It's El Rey's top show, but they were expecting more. It's insane. Wrestling draws huge ad revenues everywhere but the United States. Which is another mindfuck. You're telling me a company like TNA, that is globally known and travels the world draws less ad money than the fucking WWC that records their shows with camcorders?

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I believe Rayne explained this a while back. I'm going to butcher what he said by paraphrasing, but I believe it has to do with the public perception that wrestling has, where even when a company pulls in high ratings, where it can be the highest rated show on a network, advertisers want nothing to do with it, so the money is never actually there, even if everything else about the presentation is top-notch.

 

[klunderbunker]

I believe Rayne explained this a while back. I'm going to butcher what he said by paraphrasing, but I believe it has to do with the public perception that wrestling has, where even when a company pulls in high ratings, where it can be the highest rated show on a network, advertisers want nothing to do with it, so the money is never actually there, even if everything else about the presentation is top-notch.

See also Raw from the Attitude Era. The ratings were the highest of all time but the sponsors ranged from unheard of to their own video games sponsoring the shows. Compare that to now where they have a license with Mattel and a sponsorship with Mountain Dew. That's WWE, which is roughly 8,000 miles ahead of TNA and is the only wrestling company which draws ratings you can compare to other big name shows. WWE will take the ratings they get now with the money from Mountain Dew etc. over the ratings they had in 1999 and nothing from sponsors any day.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

We saw TNA go through a lot of different sponsorships. None worked. They even branded their ring for Five Hour Energy years back. In this industry, it seems, you take money where you can get it, because it's just not a money-maker. Not from an advertising, sponsorship or marketing perspective, at least.

 

[Soulblazed]

It's Damn Real and Killjoy, I'm giving Jarrett the benefit of the doubt here..Plus, if his GFW DOES materialize into something worthwhile, who's to say that he won't work with TNA on a business level? Never say never, even though what I suggested earlier obviously has a low likelihood of happening. If there's enough $ to be made with GFW and TNA working together, then it could be interesting IF it ever happens, keyword being "IF"..

 

[Rayne]

I believe Rayne explained this a while back. I'm going to butcher what he said by paraphrasing, but I believe it has to do with the public perception that wrestling has, where even when a company pulls in high ratings, where it can be the highest rated show on a network, advertisers want nothing to do with it, so the money is never actually there, even if everything else about the presentation is top-notch.

If you want to see this phenomenon in action, look to the UFC. It wasn't very long ago that their major sponsor was Xyience (quick, media fans: was Xyience a weight loss pill, creatine powder, or sports drink?) It wasn't until they lost their reputation as a niche sport that sponsors like Bud Light started putting down cash.

The WWE is in a class of its own when it comes to sponsorships, because they are getting to be less about the business of 'professional wrestling', and more about creating made-to-order spokespeople participating in professional wrestling. A great deal of effort has been put in behind the scenes into making the WWE an attractive option for major sponsors, which is something the other national promotions don't do.

It's Damn Real and Killjoy, I'm giving Jarrett the benefit of the doubt here..Plus, if his GFW DOES materialize into something worthwhile, who's to say that he won't work with TNA on a business level? Never say never, even though what I suggested earlier obviously has a low likelihood of happening. If there's enough $ to be made with GFW and TNA working together, then it could be interesting IF it ever happens, keyword being "IF"..

GFW launching a conventional American professional wrestling program at this time would be a complete and total disaster, because there is currently no demand for another professional wrestling promotion. It's like Jim Cornette and SMW- wrong time, wrong place.

However, GFW does have a great deal of potential as a curator of international professional wrestling for an American audience. There is a great deal of high-quality, international professional wrestling going on right now that the American audience is largely unexposed to, and a promoter with name recognition is in a good position to purchase and resell the programming. This could be the direction they're headed with shows like Wrestle Kingdom 9; a show which featured several performers American audiences were familiar with, but also prominently featured Japanese stars unknown to most people stateside.

But as a professional wrestling organization in a familiar style trying to operate in 2015, they don't stand a chance. There's a very good reason there haven't been many new promotions launched in the past several years.

 

[OYDK]

Oh jeez, it always turns out so great when network execs get involved in something they have no clue about, ESPECIALLY the wrestling business... really, if these network big-shots knew one iota about wrestling, they would know not to heavily involve themselves as it will just lead to disaster. As smart as these people seem to think they are, and as figured out as they think they have it, they have no idea how to make money off of a wrestling business. The article states they wanted Kurt Angle as champ because the strap would look more meaningful on an Olympic gold medalist... I bet that's all they know about Angle.. that he's a gold medalist... never mind the 50 other times he's worn the TNA belt...

DA needs to get their noses out of TNA before they lose their highest rated program. It amazes me that this network expected MORE fans, even though TNA is nearly the most watched show in the history of that channel... it leads me to believe that DA really didn't want a wrestling company on their network but figured TNA would bring in every single viewer from Spike, which is just ludicrous given that DA only reaches about half the viewers that Spike does.

However, it really all boils down to TNA management and their lack of planning. This company has been in the toilet financially for a few years now, and with all the setbacks that have hit it, it doesn't look like they're crawling out anytime soon. A well managed company would not have put itself in the position that TNA finds itself in right now, period.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

I find this report/rumour highly dubious, for several reasons, the main ones as follows:

• Destination American would surely have done research on TNA before signing them to a contract - this research would have shown that TNA tape Impact! shows in the UK every January, and it would show ratings levels and patterns over the last few years. The former may not be overly important when agreeing a deal, but the latter certainly would be, if it wasn't important then every independent company would have a tv deal in the States.

• why is it you only ever hear rumours about 'boardroom interference' in wrestling? If a soap opera (serial) or drama series started to stagnate in the ratings, the tv execs are never heard to suggest storylines to the show producers. Why? Because the tv execs merely provide the platform, they know they have nothing to do with the script writing of the show. The same is true for wrestling. Sure, it's a different style of show, but ultimately it is just that: a tv show. So why are so many quick to believe that a tv company will happily interfere with storylines as they want to boost ratings? The reason it happened in WCW was because TBS owned WCW!

 

[TDFG]

I would think DA would be happy with the ratings TNA is drawing for them and whatever advertising it is bringing during the ad breaks.

I don't think it's as bad as what some are making out, a TV company is always going to be having some sort of input when it comes to wrestling shows.

 

[mlp420]

I'm curious how these rumors will effect the psychology of some of the folks that let the backstage rumors color the perception of what's on TV. I've always been suspicious that there are forces at work that keep these negative rumors around TNA to prevent them from getting a fair shake with internet fans. So it doesn't surprise me that as people are finally coming around to giving TNA their due for solid recent programming here comes a wave of negative rumors.

I expect some folks to go back to picking apart every little detail of every match and storyline in order to villify Destination America the way they did Jarrett, Russo, Bischoff, Hogan, Pritchard, etc. It's just life I suppose.

 

[Chrome]

I find this report/rumour highly dubious, for several reasons, the main ones as follows:

• Destination American would surely have done research on TNA before signing them to a contract - this research would have shown that TNA tape Impact! shows in the UK every January, and it would show ratings levels and patterns over the last few years. The former may not be overly important when agreeing a deal, but the latter certainly would be, if it wasn't important then every independent company would have a tv deal in the States.

• why is it you only ever hear rumours about 'boardroom interference' in wrestling? If a soap opera (serial) or drama series started to stagnate in the ratings, the tv execs are never heard to suggest storylines to the show producers. Why? Because the tv execs merely provide the platform, they know they have nothing to do with the script writing of the show. The same is true for wrestling. Sure, it's a different style of show, but ultimately it is just that: a tv show. So why are so many quick to believe that a tv company will happily interfere with storylines as they want to boost ratings? The reason it happened in WCW was because TBS owned WCW!

I agree, this point of view from 'dirt sheets' seem like a contradiction to the announcement the network made last week

TNA Credited for Helping Destination America

Destination America announced via press release this week that they just recorded their best first quarter ever, thanks in part to TNA's Impact Wrestling. Destination ranked in the top 20 fastest growing cable networks for the quarter.

They wrote:

"Destination America has recorded its best first quarter ever among HH, P2+ and M25-54/18-49 Prime delivery for 1Q2015 and ranks in the top-20 fastest growing ad-supported cable networks among HH and P2+ delivery for the quarter. With the series premiere of Impact Wrestling and the return of the network’s hit Mountain Monsters, Destination America captured over 41.94M unique viewers over the course of the quarter."

Source
http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/destination-america-captures-viewers-across-states/

Meltzer is talking out of his ass again.

 

[Rayne]

Read the press release past the first line before commenting on it, people. It uses a lot of words and numbers to convey absolutely no actual information. If you are unfamiliar with television terminology, it's the equivalent of saying that I'm in the top 500 posters of men aged 18-49 who created their accounts between 2008 and 2012.

We remain at the point where it's still too early to evaluate the success/failure of this Destination America thing, but people need shit to talk about.

 

[The Boss]

Domestic crowds down from a 7,200 high to around 250 per show. TV coverage cut by half. Now they are not allowed to tape over seas. Boy, thing have certainly dwindled since the glory years of 2010-2013 when they set their all time highest rating (2010), their highest rated yearly average (2011), highest domestic attendance at 5,500 (2012 Slammiversary) only to break it the following year at 7,200 (2013 Lockdown). Plus the show went live, on the road and began taping over seas for the first time ever. Then suddenly it was all gone. Some thing changed. Someone left. Hmmm. What was it that made those years so special? Oh well. At least those few remaining TNA fans got their stupid looking six sided ring back. Hope you are happy with it guys.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

Domestic crowds down from a 7,200 high to around 250 per show. TV coverage cut by half. Now they are not allowed to tape over seas. Boy, thing have certainly dwindled since the glory years of 2010-2013 when they set their all time highest rating (2010), their highest rated yearly average (2011), highest domestic attendance at 5,500 (2012 Slammiversary) only to break it the following year at 7,200 (2013 Lockdown). Plus the show went live, on the road and began taping over seas for the first time ever. Then suddenly it was all gone. Some thing changed. Someone left. Hmmm. What was it that made those years so special? Oh well. At least those few remaining TNA fans got their stupid looking six sided ring back. Hope you are happy with it guys.

You're talking about single records. Their highest attendance was that number, but that number was not consistent. If they were pulling 7,000 on cue - you have a point. But in case you don't recall, they went from 7,200 straight back to the 1,100 at the Impact Zone, and they did miserable numbers in following events.

Also, I highly doubt TNA is pulling only 250 per show now. Remember they film in the Impact Zone again and that is usually sold out or close to being maxed out. In addition, them going on the road and live meant jack shit. We realized that two weeks into that campaign. Cost them money, lowered the ratings and didn't add squat to the overall value of the show. It meant nothing.

TNA is now in a place where they care more about what they do creatively and the quality of the product they put out, instead of who's the next WWE guy they'll sign, if they'll go live, if they'll go on the road, if they'll make a video game. They care about what's important. Being on the road means very little, we saw that. Being live means even less.

Just a month ago they were pulling big attendance in England, while being on DA. It's all about their location, level of interest and size of the arena. Problem is TNA doesn't seem to have a good grasp on the good locations for them. Hell, even WWE is just now grading cities so they know where they should and shouldn't go.

I'm not saying Destination America is a safe haven, they probably have their weird demands (just as any network does). What I'm saying is you're really bending these numbers out of proportion to prove a point that doesn't exist.

They're certainly a smaller company now. Attendance IS down (not consistently 250 though), ratings ARE down. But that's the trickle down effect of their agonizing time with SpikeTV which bound them to a contract with a network where they got zero support, zero advertising, high demands and no pay off. Add to that the idiotic strategic moves they pulled over the past six years which are all their fault and you have today's TNA.

However, I highly doubt DA is worse for TNA than Spike. Yes, they don't have the audience Spike does but they do seem to promote it and any demands they have can be worked with. It's not in their interest to cripple the company. Right now TNA is in a good place, creatively, DA is not meddling TOO much, and they're off to a good year.

You have to remember than any demands DA allegedly makes can and will be negotiated. Nothing is signed, nothing is set in stone. DA might think something is a good idea, TNA might dispute it, then key people sit down, talk about it and they come up with a solution. That's how business is done. It's not a case of our way or the highway for either. Do you think DA will risk losing TNA considering they're doing such good numbers for them? That's TNA's leverage. And do you think TNA will risk losing DA? That's DA's leverage. Everything seems to be civil right now, and nothing from what's reported is a rule of thumb. They'll sit down, negotiate, some will go through some won't - big deal.

I'll watch this TNA over the 7,200 attendance TNA any day of the week. The show's better than it's ever been. The fact they do that for "250 people" and lower ratings only speaks for their hard work. They seem to have sobered up now. They hit the restart button (again) but this time there is a very obvious change. Before they changed the presentation and all the bells and whistles, NOW they changed the underlying strategy which builds the show creatively. That's a real change.