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NewsA MAJOR Backstage Update On TNA's New TV Deal For iMPACT! -...

A MAJOR Backstage Update On TNA’s New TV Deal For iMPACT! – Lots Of New Information Released

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Partial Source: Pwinsider.com

UPDATE x 4: With the move to Destination America, TNA
iMPACT! will remain a two-hour TV show. The show will air either on Tuesday
night or Wednesday night. Here are some additional backstage notes on the new TV
deal:

* TNA was working to sign more than just a new TV deal for the iMPACT!
Wrestling TV show. While the Destination American deal is a smaller TV deal with
less available viewers, TNA took the deal because of additional programming
options and because Destination America will treat them as an important part of
the network. The additional shows that are planned will allow them to make more
revenue as well. That will ofset some of the loses from the SpikeTV
departure.

* TNA was in negotiations with WGN, but the deal would have held TNA off of
TV until the second quarter of 2015. TNA couldn’t take the risk of being off the
air for that long and passed on the deal. It’s a good sign for the future though
as WGN was definitly interested in carrying a wrestling promotion.

* TNA reportedly had discussions with FOX and CMT as well.

* TNA’s negotiations with SpikeTV reportedly ended about three weeks ago.
SpikeTV was offering a smaller deal and would not give TNA additional
programming.

* Some of the additional programming that Destination America may air are the
TNA One Night Only specials.

* TNA will now focus on signing talent to new deals. From there, the plan is
to refocus the creative direction of the company and to re-work the entire
company from the inside out.

* Josh Matthews will be the point person on overhauling the TNA website. A
new design and logos are in the works.

* Live event touring will likely remain very limited going forward.

* With the loss of the Spike TV deal, TNA will be off TV in Canada for now.
The company is working on a new Canadian TV deal and an announcement on that is
forthcoming. The main concern was the American TV deal.

UPDATE x 3: According to several sources, TNA is seeing
its move to Destination America in 2015 as a positive step for the company’s
future. This is even though the move will have TNA broadcast in less homes than
before on Spike TV.

According to the sources, Destination America is
fully on board with TNA and wants to take steps to help promote the product in
two ways. Destination America plans on replaying iMPACT! every week and add
secondary shows and unique specials. There is talk of bringing British Boot Camp
to the US with the move or creating a US formatted version of the
show.

TNA was initially planning to run a live show in New York on
January 7, 2015. However, those plans have now changed. TNA has reportedly let
its roster know that there will be update in the next few days. There are rumors
that the company will film a new set of TV tapings later in December. For now,
talks are said to still be up in the air.

Also, TNA announced the deal to
their talents at a meeting (conference call) during the morning hours on
Wednesday. The story/press release was then posted online immediately after the
talents had been notified.

Bull Ray tweeted the following cryptic tweet
after the deal was announced:

UPDATE x 2: Dixie
Carter tweeted the following today, thanking SpikeTV President Kevin
Kay:

UPDATE: This was in
the TNA announcement, but it was buried at the bottom of the press release. If
you want to know whether your cable provider carries iMPACT’s new home of
Destination America is available in your home, go here.

ORIGINAL:
Spike TV issued the following statement regarding TNA’s departure from the
network. According to the end date revealed in the statement, it appears that
the previously rumored “best of” episodes of iMPACT! will air on December 3rd,
10th, 17th and finally on the 24th.

Our partnership
with TNA Wrestling will officially come to an end with our last telecast on
December 24.

Dixie Carter and her team have been incredible partners to
work with over the past 9 years, delivering high-action entertainment and strong
ratings.

As Spike continues to evolve into a network reaching a broader
audience, we continue to look across our schedule to find opportunities to add
original scripted and non-scripted programming that appeals to a wider
demographic.

On behalf of everyone at Spike, we would like to wish Dixie
and TNA all the best and continued success.

Kevin Kay President, Spike
TV