WWE and Spike TV.....Repeat of ECW and TNN?

[closet_fan]

There have been rumors galore as to the WWE shopping around it's programming. AMC acquiring WWE was the rumor dujour this week as AMC is one of the channels that has expressed interest.

Another channel is Spike TV. This is interesting as I see Spike being one of the major players since a lot of their shows are geared towards men and they are constantly growing.

And, oh wait, TNA just so happens to be on Spike.

All this reminds me of when ECW was on TNN and the WWF was shopping around it's programming, with TNN being one of the favorites. As we all know, Paul Heyman hated TNN because they forced him to do a lot of things that just wasn't ECW's style. But, in the end, it gave ECW a home on cable.

Once the WWF signed on with TNN, they had no need for ECW (which many considered to be an experiment to see if they could bring in a wrestling audience).

Heyman desperately tried to find a new channel to bring his product to, but it didn't happen. Had he been able to, maybe things might have changed. At that point, however, ECW was so bankrupt, they ended up having to sell to McMahon. But maybe getting on a new network would have put ECW back in the black again.

With Spike TV (formerly TNN) as a network of interest, and the knowledge that McMahon would likely love to put TNA out of it's misery just because he can, will we see a repeat of ECW/TNN? Or will Impact be able to find a new network, unlike ECW and WCW (to an extent)?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

IF WWE signs a television deal with Viacom, which is the parent company of Spike TV, then Raw & SmackDown! will probably be coming to Spike TV. If that happens, it MIGHT be the final nail in TNA's coffin. I don't think any of us can say it's an absolute certainty, but it'll be a major blow to a company that, reportedly, has been having a lot of financial issues.

Will TNA be able to find a new network? It's difficult to say. There are reports that even Time Warner is interested in WWE just because its WWE and it's on another level when it comes to recognition and the kind of ratings WWE programming brings in. From a purely numbers standpoint, I'm not sure how desirable the TNA brand is at this point. Purely a guess on my part is that it's not highly sought after. The audience they had on 1-4-10 of 2.2 million is still the largest in the company's history and there've only been a very small number of times that they've come anywhere near that level since. Once upon a time, 1.3 million or so was about average for what they drew each week. Now, however, 1.3 million is considered a pretty big number given that ratings are frequently just a little below the 1.0 mark.

This is pure speculation on my part, but IF TNA loses its deal with Spike TV due to WWE signing with Viacom, I'm guessing their best hope MIGHT be that Fox is interested and that they'll be alongside UFC again on Fos Sports. However, considering that the TNA brand just isn't huge, I'm thinking that it's more likely they'd wind up getting some kind of a syndication deal similar to what ROH has.

 

[ShawnBronald]

I agree with the above post. Since Fox was looking to possibly sign WWE, and considering for a short time TNA was on Fox Sport Net, I could see them signing TNA and putting iMPACT on Fox Sports 1. They want a wrestling program to go on the new network. Fox Sports 1 is in as many homes as Spike. I wouldn't be surprised if TNA tries to negotiate with Fox instead of waiting to see what Spike does.

 

[FistoftheMFK]

I can't see WWE moving to Spike. It seems like a downgrade and Spike isn't as widely available as USA Network is. If anything TNA should be shopping for a bigger network to have their show on.

 

[closet_fan]

I can't see WWE moving to Spike. It seems like a downgrade and Spike isn't as widely available as USA Network is. If anything TNA should be shopping for a bigger network to have their show on.

A network that brings in more viewers won't even consider putting them on their programming. They just don't bring in the numbers to make it worth it.

And it isn't a downgrade if Spike ponies up the most money. Just like when they were TNN, they could see that wrestling does just well enough that signing the WWE instead would be worth it in the long run.

It's all about money.

 

[MattRhys20]

Something has just been brought to my attention, which a lot of people seem to have overlooked.

Total Divas airs on E!- which is a channel owned by... NBCUniversal.

So I'm sure that would have been part of the negotiation. If Total Divas starts pulling in good numbers (no idea what it does currently), no way NBC would want to risk losing Total Divas to another network if WWE up sticks

 

[Pedigree1]

TNA better hope that WWE doesn't move to Viacom,if so TNA might as well fold up their tents.. TNA numbers im sure are not that great and never really have been.. If Viacom swoops up WWE,then that might as well be the final nail in TNA's Coffin. They have been in financial trouble for quite awhile now,as well all know and I dont even know if MVP can help them out all that much..

Could TNA find another network? That would be hard to do IMO,they are simply not big enough to warrant a major television deal IMO. I dont see them going to Fox,the UFC has that covered.. I think if it happens a syndication deal,maybe will be their only option!

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Cable will be dead in 20 years. 5 or 6 companies will bid and the company WWE lands on will suffer the winner's curse like many. Doesn't matter where WWE lands, they'll be loaded and the Network is there to carry them once everyone realizes "hey, people under 30 would rather stream their shows".