TNA: Stay on Spike or go to Fox???

[Shocky]

While it is just in the negotiation process still, by all accounts it's looking like TNA is going to be getting at least 2 hours of shows a week, if not more. So as a fan, which would you like to see them go to, Stay on Spike or make a move to the fox network.

Spike: Supposedly will move the Ultimate Fighter to Wednesday nights and give TNA 2 hours, maybe 9-11, on Thursdays. The bad thing with this deal is, they are still stuck on the dreaded ultra competitive Thursday Night time slot, which will hurt ratings.

Fox: Fox has rumored to offer a 2 hour slot on their Network, and that is huge, also an additional 2 hours on another of their networks, presumably, FX. The Problem with this is two fold, Fox is Notorious for abandoning young shows if they don't show instant results, and two, four hours maybe over exposure.

Vote and discuss.

 

[Ozzfan2050]

I think that TNA should go with FOX because they will get the TV time they need to become more popular. As Shockmaster has said there are two downsides but why stay on Spike on one of the most competitive rating days?

 

[A.J.]

TNA needs to the shot with Fox and run with it. If there going to get big they need the mainstream exposure and well Fox can give them that and Spike can not. As if TNA is going to want to challenge WWE someday they need a channel that has loca; stations for those familes that dont have cable to watch and a company that has multiple networks that will air them. Spike is nice but they just dont promote well and some cable companies dont carry it. So I say go big its now or never.

 

[PrimeTime_AJ]

I think TNA should do both. 2 hours on SpikeTV and 2-4 hrs on FOX. I think with that combo, TNA will get the Exposure needed reguardless

 

[JoshK1985]

Go with FOX... I would venture to say alot more homes get fox than Spike. hell in my area Fox is a basic cable channel so everyone gets it. Also it gives them more exposure and that could lead to higher ppv buys, more shows away from the Impact Zone and all that equals $$$$$$. So my suggestion is take two hours on FOX and take an hour show on FX and used it as a show to get guys over using "ENHANCEMENT TALENT" and recap what happened on the flagship show.. Or take two hours on FOX, and then take an hour on FX every sunday night then use that sunday night show like WWE used to use Heat.. So basically once an month it would be used right before the PPV started to hype it...

 

[C-Bizkit]

FOX! they should go to FOX. bigger viewing audience and they would really be able to compete with WWE. not many people have cable television and FOX is a standard cable channel. and that's all i gotta say about that!!

 

[ACTAFOOL]

FOX no doubt, they will get more time slots and god knows they have enough talent to fill in all of them, and would give them great exposure to the public, cuz as metioned b4 every1 gets FOX =/... it would become more pop and for sure would get better ratings

plus FOX would do a hell of a job promoting them, something spike really needs to learn how to do...

 

[Da Vinci's Nightmare]

I am in two minds, yes FOX is giving more time, but Spike gave TNA a chance, so should TNA stick with them?

But for purely for the exposer right, you would have to say fox, because the more your product is on TV the more chance u have got of gettin new viewers, an fox own more networks, so that means TNA could run more advertisements for there product over more channels to cast a bigger net, so to speak.

 

[nwogiant33]

in the supposed scenario, i'd say go to FOX without hesitation. but here's the real question, do we know for sure that the show would be on the FOX network itself? FOX runs FX, FOX News (obviously not), FOX Sports Networks (already been on that), FOX Movie Channel, MyNetwork TV, FOX Reality, FUEL TV, National Geographic Channel and SPEED Channel. I'd say out of those, the only real possibilities would be FX, MyNetwork TV or the FOX network itself. The last two would be best, but FX wouldn't be bad either, i'd say it's bigger than Spike. I say it should come down to who gives them more air time & publicity, either way they certainly should move to 2 hours as soon as possible!

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

Isn't this a mute point? From what I read on the main site, Spike and Fox are affiliated. The move would be from Spike to another Fox affilated stations of having a show on Spike and other Fox affilated stations. It's not a move, it's more of a deal restructuring.

 

[RVDgurl]

I don't think I can respond to this since I haven't seen any details in regard to the FOX deal. I get nervous whenever a good wrestling product switches to a bigger network ever since the ECW/TNN deal years ago. However, as long as TNA doesn't have to alter or compromise any part of thier product, then they should obviously take the deal with FOX for more air time. They have more than enough talent to cover 4 hours a week. This would give TNA a chance to really develop characters and storylines. They really can't do that right now with a measily hour or programming.

 

[Shocky]

Spike is owned by Viacom, which owns CBS and part owner of the CW. So technically Smackdown and Impact are both working for the same owners. Same with NBC/Universal owning USA, but they also own the studio that host the rival companies television shows. Spike is not affiliated with Fox.

From what I've read on the Fox deal is that it will indeed be the Fox Network, and not MyNetwork TV. For me, I would rather it be on MyNetwork TV, for now. I love the idea of TNA going to 4 hours a week, but I don't trust the booking.

Fox is also notorious for getting behind a product, like "Drive", pushing it to the moon, giving it 3 weeks to perform, then pulling the plug if the ratings aren't acceptable.

With Fox, I still think TNA is going to get a shit time slot. Mondays are locked with 24 and Prison Break, Tuesdays are Idol and House, Wednesdays are Idol Results.

This leaves the Dreaded Thursday time slot on the toughest night of the week for ratings, or Friday Nights with direct competition against Smackdown. I would rather TNA get a friday night deal and go head to head with the B Show. Fox will probably promote the hell out of the show, and it's on a big network already.

I also read that the deal won't be for FSN, which is great news. If it is FX, I would have no idea what night that would be on.

For me, I would love to see them take the fox deal, but only for 2 hours to start out with then test four hours. I don't trust the current booking team, and quite frankly, if so many wrestlers are bitching now, I would start to weed some of the bad seeds out before this goes down. With Murdoch's money and 4 hours, and the bad publicity for the WWE lately, TNA can fire a huge shot to start a war by taking this deal, fuck Spike, they killed ECW.

 

[The Bearded One]

They should go to FOX, for all the reasons people have already listed. They have the talent to have 3 or 4 hours of weekly program. But the only thing would be scheduling. They would have to start showing outside of the Impact Zone or traveling around the country then go back to Orlando every week or two would be too much on the wrestlers. They would also have to get a good slot for it. Maybe Tuesdays, to rival ECW, and Thursdays or Saturdays. They would also have to get on the main FOX station and FX. But it would be better than staying on Spike, who IMO aren't doing too bad either.

 

[ACTAFOOL]

tuesdays might be good.. going against ECW i think they would win, as soon as most ppl get a look at the quality of TNA i think without a doubt its ratings will beat ECW, and then there will truley be a wrestling war like good old wcw and wwf days =D

and if they go to fox it will just show its getting more and more potential, FOX is a big network, not only would they be promoting TNA but TNA would have a 2 hour program like WWE... so i think it would stop making TNA look like a weak company and getting more viewrs, lets just hope that, FOX or spike, they can get a 2 hour deal, thats the most important thing right now... its like impossible to put all their stuff in a 1 hour show...

 

[Chaze2k1]

Moving to Fox would be a great step for them, now the only problem is finding the timeslots for the shows.

Fox network doesnt have really any openings in there schedule except for Saturday nights where they have Cops and Americas most Wanted from 8-10, then 10 pm on most fox affilates is local news so they cant be on at that time. FX they pretty much be on any night as they really have no consistant lineup after 8pm usually just show a movie and at 10pm one of there orginial programs like nip/tuck or Rescue Me.

The best scheduling for TNA would be this:
FX: Wednesday (TNA Impact!) 8-10 or 8-9
or FX: Sunday (TNA Xplosion) 7-8 (Special PPV preview show once a month)
Fox: Saturday 8-10 (TNA ???) Main Show that travels to locations every week, maybe in the south for a few months until it gets established.

 

[Mr.Kennedy]

I was actually just thinking of putting them up against ECW when I was reading this ACTAFOOL, I think that it would probobly help steal viewers from WWECW or WWE in general! Especially since the one thing that TNA does right is the wrestling! If they could get two hours and put the 2nd hour of the show up against ECW's 1 hour not only would that give them time for storylines and more match's but the match's could be longer! That's one thing that Jeff Jarret has been pushing for! Longer matchs! But I think that they are not strong enough to go against Smackdown yet, I would test it against WWECW before anything else....Very good idea though!

 

[serdefty]

I think they should keep taping Impact! on Mondays,but air it on Spike on Tuesdays so there is less time for spoilers to be read.Air Impact! from 9-10 because i don't think TNA should go against WWE yet.Then have FX air Xplosion from 6-7 on Sundays and FX air a New TNA show on Thursday from 8-10.Another good idea would be to have Impact! air all X division matches,Xplosion to be an Recap of Impact! an the new show plus 1-2 matches and every match to be Hardcore.

 

[ACTAFOOL]

i dont think it would be a good idea to make a program just on the x division, cuz not every1 likes them, i would love it but i dont think it would get as much ratings... there are many promotions that are just like the x division, but since they only focus on that they, usually, dont make it big time...

even if it was just a recap show, i dont think it would get the ratings FOX wants and would just put pressure on TNA, they should just stick to some sick x division action for the 1st hour of the shows

and im not saying go up against SD! or Raw, but i really think TNA has enough to go against ECW... ECW isnt that big... look at its rating this week 1.3 (it went down right?) while TNA does a solid 1.0 and has gotten its 1.2... on FOX i see the ratings getting way better... better than ECW at least... that would put more pressure on Vince to step up on WWE programming..

im just pushing for a wrestling war again because every1 benefits from it, well every wrestling fan that is, but im not sending them to go up against SD! or Raw cuz that would be suicidal....

but maybe its true, maybe they're not ready, if not then maybe they could air wedensday, saturday i dont think is a good idea... not many ppl would stay home to watch TNA on a saturday since its fans are much younger than WWEs (this is just a guess =S lol)

 

[Darsolo]

Ok Heres a response from a Canadian fan, If the move to fox happens, it might fuck our whole country out of TNA for good, as up here i only have ONE local detroit american fox channel, and i doubt it would be running TNA for 4 hours a week regardless. So i say they should stay with Spike, loyalty should count for something, they got them started, and whatever fan base, and all the money made from the TV exposure so far is all owed to Spike TV. Period.

 

[CMPunkMark]

A move to Fox would be HUGE for TNA. It's a network, and a bigger network than the CW. I can't see Fox taking off Cops or AMW for pro wrestling, but Mad TV hasn't been good in years. I think 11-1 Saturday nights would be a damn good start for TNA.

As far as FX goes, they could stick TNA on in prime-time on a Tuesday or Wednesday (they mainly show movies that they've already shown thousands of times to begin with on those nights), followed by something like Nip/Tuck at 10.

That would be very low risk for Fox, and not put TNA in any real danger of getting taken off the air.

 

[rhinoUmaga]

lol. Stay put with one hour. The product is simply not strong enough. Many of the Feuds come out of left field and there is a bottleneck at the top. Just about the enitre mid card is a former World heavyweight champion and the X-Division is a joke. lol. Seriously, You do realize that expanding to 2 hours just makes in so you can watch 2hrs of Kurt Angle and Christian every week. I'm not trying to flame. I'm just saying it would be smart to put on a significantly stronger product before trying to expand the market.

 

[Dj Martyn]

lol. Stay put with one hour. The product is simply not strong enough. Many of the Feuds come out of left field and there is a bottleneck at the top. Just about the enitre mid card is a former World heavyweight champion and the X-Division is a joke. lol. Seriously, You do realize that expanding to 2 hours just makes in so you can watch 2hrs of Kurt Angle and Christian every week. I'm not trying to flame. I'm just saying it would be smart to put on a significantly stronger product before trying to expand the market.

The problem TNA currently has is that it has too much to put into a show...Christian and Kurt Dominate most shows due to the fact that there characters have depth to them and the storylines and feuds they are involved in have depth and those two (like it or lump it) have the charisma and in ring skills to back that kind of thing up and to create a continuous/regular interesting product. If TNA had two hours alot of the staff would then have room in the schedule to be used effectively.

...Many of the Feuds come out of left field...

This is a product of the lack of TV time, without TV time to develop the feuds, they seem like they come out of left field, whereas this is a bi-product of TNA's aim, they are fully aware they are doing it. Left field feuds still produce decent matches, especially in the X-division, and they are counting on there fans just suspending belief about where the feuds are coming from. This is just the opposite of what WWE's Problem is...they have too much tv time which they pump loads of story development into...consequently ending in sub par matches...i know which i would prefer.

 

[Shadowmancer]

I think TNA should get off of Spike as soon as Possible, Spike or TNN back in the day just has Wrestling on it so it could compete with whatever networks had WWF and WCW, they got ECW and pretty much fucked it over. They did not Advertise and yet ot was their Highest rated show. they then cut ECW for the WWF as the WWF had better production value on their product. Once WWE left Spike, Spike got TNA in so they could have the ratings that having a Pro Wrestling show would have. Correct me if Im wrong here as I am not in the US but do they advertise iMPACT! on Spike? because that would explain the 1.1-1.2s in ratings. No advertising=little Knowledge=Not that good ratings.

 

[Shocky]

Shadow, you never see advertising for TNA on spike. It's kind of their guilty little pleasure. It's sickening that a company that is so aggressive in signing "rejects" and other sports athletes to cross brand with gets little love from the network it is actually on. Spike is sitting on a gold mine, yet they refuse to push this. Interesting fact, Several weeks ago on King of the Hill on Fox, Fox was advertising to check your local listings for TNA Impact. Now of course they didn't say what channel they were on since Spike is owned by Viacom which owns CBS, but it's still a promotion, and probably by all accounts, a good will gesture to TNA that you will get main stream publicity if you sign with us.

 

[EPN17]

They should stick to the one hour. What's the point of going to two hours? So you can pull another 1 in the ratings? They don't have enough star power to draw a big fan base. Hell, they only get on the road for 3 PPV's a year which do shit ticket sales. Why the hell would you give that a second hour?