Sad day for wrestling fans as the only televised WWE alternative, TNA Impact Wrestling is no more. Dave Meltzer with the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that television network, Destination America has canceled the long running Impact Wrestling program. If feels like not so long ago (Ed Note: It was really long ago) that we were going through something just like with with WCW.
Impact Wrestling never reached the success of that former brand, or made a dent with the WWE, but it was a viable alternative , and having options is always a good thing. The wrestling world is a small place for both fans and wrestlers alike. Having another company was great, as you could get what a brand like WWE wasn’t giving fans, while giving wrestlers another place to compete and hone their skills.
The current rumor that we are hearing is that Destination America has been interested in pulling out of the contract with TNA and ending all such ties with wrestling on its network by the end of the financial this quarter this September. The argument is the same that we have heard before on networks that don’t get/understand the product that they have. Advertisers and sponsors will make or break a show, regardless if said show is good or bad. Seinfeld survived its first three seasons only because the return advertisers got from the small viewer base was great, likewise The Big Bang Theory is a terrible show, but people watch in droves, so it gets to keep chugging along.
While TNA Impact Wrestling wasn’t breaking records, it was pulling in good numbers in its time-slot, but apparently not enough to justify whatever perceived loss of ad revenue the network thinks it would suffer with its continuation. TNA has yet to make a statement regarding this news/rumor, but I hope something can be worked out someplace else. The last thing we need is WWE having a monopoly on the television wrestling market.
Via: (Uproxx)
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