TNA going more "Family Friendly"? Writing on the wall or pie in the sky?

[KKarvox]

First a disclaimer, most of what follows will be a hypothetical outcome that i am writing in response to a few occurances i've noticed about TNA since them going live for the first time on mondays 1/4/10, and i am simply gauging the opionion of TNA fans. I am personally more of a fan of WWE, and i want the views of TNA fans on this hypothetical outcome. I do not want, nor do i think TNA needs to go family friendly, i'm just making an observation.

I've noticed some odd things TNA has done since 1/4, and most deal with over censorship. On 1/4, alot of commenttor dialouge was cut out during a segment, because the fans were being censored, and later Tara's crack was blurred out during a match, which is understandable. But not to long later, TNA fans were lectured about their language at an impact taping, basically being told to censor themselves. Then recently, Tara, once again, had an apparent wardrobe malfuction, and then throughout the rest of the match her chest was blurred out. That's the one occurance that kind of puzzles me. Is this simply a precautionary thing to avoid bad press, or a sign of things to come?

So, here's the hypothetical part, do you think TNA will ever move to a PG period, and how would you feel as TNA fans if they did?

I personally think that these things are simply TNA trying to avoid looking low quality/trashy, and being that it is on SPIKE, which isn't a PG station so to speak, but i thought it was an interesting question to ask.

This isn't a thread to bash either company, i want to see genuine answers and opinions about the subject.

 

[pun2003hh]

No, I don't believe these are signs of TNA going PG. Even though it is Spike, you can't intentionally allow nudity on television. FCC fines would be abundant. While I don't like the idea of a lectured crowd, the fact that TNA hosts a smaller, more intimate crowd makes it easier for the mics to pick up any chants from the crowd. TNA can't attempt to run a live show and have the crowd chanting obscenities that are clearly audible on Primetime TV. Again, FCC fines would be abundant.

I don't think we will see TNA going PG any time soon. The TV-14 rating is truly what sets TNA apart from the WWE. It gives a more adult oriented program, and with the right promotion, I think they can recapture alot of the mature audience the WWE lost over the last 3 years.

 

[smalltownfan]

I do NOT expect TNA to go PG or family friendly in the near future or maybe ever because that's one of only two advantages they have on WWE right now. With the other advantage being big-name star power (Hogan and Flair for starters), the one glaring advantage they've had in the last several months over WWE has been their edgy, on-air product. With them being on Spike TV, they can afford that luxury to push the envelope during matches and promos and they need to stick with it instead of just doing another "rasslin" show. They need to be able to continue to swing chairs, bloody up people, and tell other wrestlers they're going to kick their ass because without that edge, they will not come close to competing with WWE.

 

[psykohurricane]

But the question here is if TNA doesn't want to go PG why go and censor those things. They are on spike TV a network that have shows like Blue Mountain High and manswer and have UFC matches on a regular base. These shows have more T&A and violence in them then anything TNA is doing right now. So what the big deal really. Personally i think that Since Spike TV as some money invested in TNA that they are the one controlling what going on with the TNA tv product and since they already got some shows that are edgier, they are trying to tone down the wrestling show so that they don'T get the FCC on there back so to not hurt some of the others original programing they have on the network. TNA will probably go PG at some point because that's were to money is in wrestling right now. Sorry guys but that'S the reality of it, The WCW fan based that stop watching wrestling after WCW died aren'T there anymore and most of them are either watching WWE or stop watching wrestling all together. So if TNA wants to go PG, i say go for it because if done right, they can get a lot more money getting kids interested in their product then focusing on the IWC and the hope that some of the WCW crowd that stop watching wrestling comes back.

 

[pun2003hh]

But the question here is if TNA doesn't want to go PG why go and censor those things. They are on spike TV a network that have shows like Blue Mountain High and manswer and have UFC matches on a regular base.

What Spike TV show on the air right now has actual nudity (nipple) or full uncensored swearing outside of the occasional Ass and Bitch. Unless it is the secret stash on Comedy Central after 1am on the weekend, you are not going to find any show on basic cable that was any less censored then what we saw in TNA. Hey, just like the next guy, I would love to see these thing go uncensored in TNA, but I am just using common sense.

 

[KKarvox]

Okay, everyone is kind of focusing on the wrong thing. It's not so much bout if TNA is going PG, it's if they eventually will become more "family friendly", and what you're feelings would be if it did. If these things are signs of things to come, or just coincidental.
I also wasn't talking about censoring blatant nudity, i was talking about the fact that she was continuously censored during the duration of the match post wardrobe malfunction.

 

[shafe_41]

Okay, everyone is kind of focusing on the wrong thing. It's not so much bout if TNA is going PG, it's if they eventually will become more "family friendly", and what you're feelings would be if it did. If these things are signs of things to come, or just coincidental.
I also wasn't talking about censoring blatant nudity, i was talking about the fact that she was continuously censored during the duration of the match post wardrobe malfunction.

Because she was probably still "out" a little bit. Nip, aereola, whatever... She still might have been out a little bit. Plus TNA becoming "family friendly" essentially means them going PG. You can't have a family friendly show that gets a TV-14 rating. Doesn't happen. There's PG-13 movies out there I'd be a little weirded out by watching with my mother or something of that nature. So "family friendly" would pretty much mean them going PG. All there is to it. Plus, TNA would never do that because being a program geared towards an older crowd is what sets them apart from the E. They would NEVER do something so stupid to make them just like the E. They'd lose any edge they have or had. It'll never happen. No PG. No family friendly. No. No. No.

 

[pun2003hh]

I think they may have continuously censored it because she may have been exposed the entire time. When you are in the heat of the moment like that, you may be oblivious to it.

Again, I don't think this is an indication of TNA headed toward a PG program, but if they did, I think it may be a mistake. For TNA to succeed in my opinion, they have to do certain things like the WWE does, but other pivotal things differently. Their production values could benefit from a more WWE style, but the mature nature of their programing is what sets them apart. I think a PG rating would create a WWE-Clone stigma for the company.

 

[Schizophrenic]

I don't think it's a matter of TNA going PG but a matter of Spike doing normal cencorship that they normally would. I did notice that on the last episode of Impact they did bleep out a few words that they normally wouldn't have but i'm not sure why. It's not like it bothers me or most people. Alot of sports shows edit out stuff like "god dammit" and stuff like that. With Tara it's understandable why they would censor that. I don't think it hurts the overall product but I don't see TNA trying to be more "family friendly".

 

[AMH]

This is an interesting thread. TNA has a strong group of core fans. Fans much like WWE's, that will watch their favorite company through thick and thin. I say this, because I too, have had to suffer through the "PG Era" of WWE. And I'll admit, it can be a bit trying at times. Annoying, can't take it, wanna throw the remote at the tv sort of trying (although lately the WWE has been pretty damn good I must admit). But what we fail to realize is that the WWE is doing something pretty damn smart. They're appealing to a younger audience. They'll always have their loyal fans such as myself. But, in terms of fanbase, they're broadening their horizons. So does TNA have to do this? Will it benefit them to lessen the "PG-13" in their product?

When ECW moved to TNN (Spike TV now) Vince McMahon called Paul Heyman and told him he's going to have to change his product. That sure, he had his core fans, but in order to create a larger fanbase, he was going to have to appeal to a broader audience. An idea that Heyman ignored. An idea that, had Heyman taken into consideration, would've more than likely kept his product afloat. Now, I'm not comparing TNA to ECW, I'm just saying that in terms of business, sometimes you HAVE to alter your product to increase and appeal to a broader audience. Some of us may not be fans of this (myself included) but in terms of business, it's a wise move. TNA's ratings jumped slightly when Hogan arrived, but have since begun to dwindle and/or stay the same. Which means they're keeping a strong fan base, but are not gaining the ones needed to make them a competive product. Changes are going to be needed in order to compete. Changes perhaps we may not like. But that's business, I guess.

 

[scorpioking1026]

What Spike TV show on the air right now has actual nudity (nipple) or full uncensored swearing outside of the occasional Ass and Bitch. Unless it is the secret stash on Comedy Central after 1am on the weekend, you are not going to find any show on basic cable that was any less censored then what we saw in TNA. Hey, just like the next guy, I would love to see these thing go uncensored in TNA, but I am just using common sense.

Spike TV's Blue Mountain State airs a lot of shits at least 2 per episode. Plus Always Sunny in Philly is the same way. And not just during the later replays but during the first run. However that's not the man point. The reason for TNA's censorship is cuz the shows are taped. Hell during the "Attitude Era" when Raw was taped, there was censorship then too.

I don't see these censorships as a sign of being family friendly at all, especially considering that Mr. Anderson bust Kurt Angel open last night. When WWE went PG they got rid of the blood. TNA is trying to build a larger audience and it won't happen with a PG ratiing. It worked for WWE cuz they already had the fans.

 

[roaring falcon]

But the question here is if TNA doesn't want to go PG why go and censor those things. They are on spike TV a network that have shows like Blue Mountain High and manswer and have UFC matches on a regular base. These shows have more T&A and violence in them then anything TNA is doing right now. So what the big deal really. Personally i think that Since Spike TV as some money invested in TNA that they are the one controlling what going on with the TNA tv product and since they already got some shows that are edgier, they are trying to tone down the wrestling show so that they don'T get the FCC on there back so to not hurt some of the others original programing they have on the network. TNA will probably go PG at some point because that's were to money is in wrestling right now. Sorry guys but that'S the reality of it, The WCW fan based that stop watching wrestling after WCW died aren'T there anymore and most of them are either watching WWE or stop watching wrestling all together. So if TNA wants to go PG, i say go for it because if done right, they can get a lot more money getting kids interested in their product then focusing on the IWC and the hope that some of the WCW crowd that stop watching wrestling comes back.

the reason is...... there aired after 10 pm.... After 10 the fcc laws arn't in effect.....its why shows like BMS,niptuck,comedy central can get away with nudity cursing ect ect.....yes tna goes to 11 but since they start at 9 they were likely told not to do things on purpose. tara's second censoring was because of her underneath shirt which was said to of said either wwe or a mma org, which spike had to blur...... why would ufc be censored, they censor out cursing while on air and its a SPORT....i dont understand why it would be censored

Spike TV's Blue Mountain State airs a lot of shits at least 2 per episode. Plus Always Sunny in Philly is the same way. And not just during the later replays but during the first run. However that's not the man point. The reason for TNA's censorship is cuz the shows are taped. Hell during the "Attitude Era" when Raw was taped, there was censorship then too.

I don't see these censorships as a sign of being family friendly at all, especially considering that Mr. Anderson bust Kurt Angel open last night. When WWE went PG they got rid of the blood. TNA is trying to build a larger audience and it won't happen with a PG ratiing. It worked for WWE cuz they already had the fans.

its not bc the show is taped...... ever since kevin nash's wcw incident wwe/tna even when airing live use a 5 second delay like other live programming

 

[pun2003hh]

Well noted about the lack of censorship with It's Sunny. I am actually a fan of that show, but just completely forgot about it. I guess the only real difference is that Sunny is a TV-MA rated show, so maybe they are a bit lenient with it? Either way, I understand the censorship of the vulgarity. I think the rules are different for Primetime shows.

 

[Upgrayedd]

No, this is ridiculous. TNA is going to go after that 18-34 demographic that the WWE has turned their backs on with the whole PG and "WWE Universe" BS.

Hogan has even stated that TNA is going to be a wrestling show for men and none of that PG crap.

 

[scorpioking1026]

the reason is...... there aired after 10 pm.... After 10 the fcc laws arn't in effect.....its why shows like BMS,niptuck,comedy central can get away with nudity cursing ect ect.....yes tna goes to 11 but since they start at 9 they were likely told not to do things on purpose. tara's second censoring was because of her underneath shirt which was said to of said either wwe or a mma org, which spike had to blur...... why would ufc be censored, they censor out cursing while on air and its a SPORT....i dont understand why it would be censored


its not bc the show is taped...... ever since kevin nash's wcw incident wwe/tna even when airing live use a 5 second delay like other live programming

To be honest, I don't know what incident with Nash/WCW you are refering to, I do know Brian Pillman shouting "fucking" during the "He's got a gun segment" was not edited and had to apologize. However, topic here is TNA's censorship. I understand your point with the 5 second delay but that is not relevant to TNA since they have had only one live show. Even Tara's first censored spot, where her ass was blurred, if that happened during a live show it there's no way to censor that except change camera angel. WWE doesn't do it for their divas (Micki James being the perfect example). As for Tara's second incident, it wasn't due to writing on her shirt but cuz of a nipple slip. But since the shows were taped, TNA was able to censor it out. Remember TNA and Spike TV treat the women's division a lot differently then WWE. 1) Most of them can actually wrestle and are not just "eye candy". 2) There is that stipulation where TNA doesn't show a male attacking a female. Becuase the shows were taped, TNA was able to censor out Tara's mishaps and continue the mission statement that they have with the women's division and not treat them like "DIVAS".

 

[gd]

I don't think those instances are a indication of TNA going PG, or anything like that. You can't really have nudity on TV, and a extremely loud and clear "bullshit" chant probably won't fly well either.

I wouldn't be a big fan of TNA going PG, whatever that really means, but I wouldn't stop watching if TNA went PG all of a sudden. Personally, I don't think the rating really makes much of a difference, as far as what they can put on TV.

Regardless, that won't happen on a station like Spike, which has shows like MANswers and Blue Mountain State, which are pretty much all tits and sex.

 

[BladeRunner]

Well, I pretty much never miss an episode of TNA.

And this year, 2010, there's been more censorship, less backstage chaos, less blood as compared to last year so far. They've cut back on some more hardcore elements as well.

Now I'm not saying they're going PG, or family friendly.

But I have noticed that they've toned down some stuff since the new regime came into power.

The reason I've noticed it, is because I want there to be the crazy stuff, and so I specifically look for it