UPDATE: TNA announced today that they are officially heading to Destination America
in 2015. The network will be the new home for the iMPACT! Wrestling show. In the
press release they mention some of the top stars as “Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode,
Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley and Gail Kim”. Angle and Kim’s TNA deals had expired,
so it would seem as if they have re-signed with the company. The press release
does not announce the debut date, what night the show will air or if they are
staying a 2-hour product. You can read the full announcement
below…
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS ACQUIRES EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST
RIGHTS TO TOP PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING LEAGUE, TNA IMPACT WRESTLING,
FOR
DESTINATION AMERICA
Discovery Communications announced today
that it has signed a multi-year deal with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) IMPACT
WRESTLING to bring the popular league to homes nationwide on Destination
America, the only network dedicated to celebrating the people, places and
stories of the United States. Destination America officially enters the ring
with its first world premiere of IMPACT WRESTLING in January 2015. The series
features some of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including Jeff
Hardy, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley and Gail Kim. The partnership
includes the U.S. premieres of additional TNA WRESTLING series and specials and
provides Discovery Communications with international broadcasting rights in
select regions, to be announced at a later date.
“Our partnership in this
uniquely entertaining franchise with TNA IMPACT WRESTLING provides a significant
addition to Destination America’s programming strategy,” said Henry Schleiff,
Group President of Destination America, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes
Channel, Discovery Fit & Health and Discovery Family Channel. “The enduring,
cross-generational enthusiasm of pro wrestling is felt by millions of fans
around the country, from coast-to-coast and throughout the heartland. We are
delighted to bring this beloved American pastime to the one and only network
dedicated to celebrating the unique spirit of the U.S., Destination
America.”
“Our knockout partnership with TNA IMPACT WRESTLING continues
Destination America’s mission of bringing our viewers the best of all-American
entertainment, and going center ring with one of the world’s foremost
professional wrestling leagues fits perfectly within our DNA,” said Marc Etkind,
general manager of Destination America. “Wrestling has created a fiercely loyal,
passionate and widespread fan base, and we look forward to being part of the TNA
family.”
“We are very excited about Destination America being the new
network for IMPACT WRESTLING and the partnership with Discovery Communications
both domestically and across the globe. Their commitment to promote and grow our
brand in innovative and compelling ways was instrumental in knowing we had found
the right home,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Together we will create an
experience that takes our fans on a new journey that will push the envelope of
technology, including where we take our cameras, going deeper into our
superstars’ lives and showing the reality of what it takes to create a weekly
professional wrestling show, all while showcasing the very best male and female
athletes in the world.”
Since launching in 2012, Destination America has
become one of cable’s top five fastest-growing networks*, earning 10 consecutive
quarters of year-over-year growth in Prime among P2+. With top series that
explore unique American cultures and ways of life – including Mountain Monsters,
A Haunting, Hillbilly Blood, Buying the Bayou, Buying Alaska, Ghost Asylum and
BBQ Pitmasters – Destination America’s programming spans the nation from Alaska,
Hawaii and Colorado to Louisiana, West Virginia and communities in between. To
find Destination America, the new home of TNA’s IMPACT WRESTLING, go to
destinationamerica.com/watchda.
TNA is a privately held sports
entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in TV properties,
events, merchandise, music, and the management and promotion of professional
wrestlers. TNA annually delivers more than 500 hours of original content to
millions of fans around the world.
TNA just released the following video:
