For this column, I thought I’d focus on two subjects: The current mess that is TNA’s UK TV situation and also TNA Genesis (a PPV, which by now, you’re all probably aware will NOT be airing on “free” TV in the UK).
First of all, let’s look at the recent UK TV problems. As we have reported on the site, TNA Wrestling is no longer available on UK TV, in any form whatsoever. Bravo (who carried “IMPACT!”) ceased transmission on January 1, 2011 (this was the result of Sky purchasing the Living Group of channels in September 2010; Sky decided that as Bravo reached a similar demographic as their own entertainment channel Sky One they would close the Bravo network down). “IMPACT!” has been off our screens ever since, as Sky look to make a decision in regards to which channel TNA will move to (it will move somewhere, at some point, as it is one of the “protected” shows that got high ratings for Bravo).
Extreme Sports apparently lost interest in TNA altogether, as “Xplosion”, “Epics” and the monthly PPV events (which were broadcast for free on a 5-day delay) have all suddenly disappeared from the channel’s schedules. This now leaves TNA’s UK presence in a precarious position to say the least.
Bear in mind that it’s been far from “plain sailing” for TNA in regards to their UK TV output. Back when they mainly existed as a PPV-only product, they made their UK TV debut on the now-defunct Friendly TV on Sky (this was in October 2003 and was part of a trial for “The Wrestling Channel” that was due to launch in March 2004, the day after WrestleMania XX, to be exact).
TNA gained a good following in the UK, and when “TWC” officially launched the following year (the trial was a success), they got a regular slot on the channel.
Although “TWC” could only show the weekly TNA PPV shows on a 3-month delay, it was better than nothing and TNA soon became one of the most popular forms of wrestling on the channel.
In 2005, “TWC” acquired the rights to broadcast TNA’s new prime-time U.S. show “IMPACT!” on a 7-day delay, along with the monthly PPV events (again on a 7-day delay).
By 2006, TNA Wrestling was officially the top draw for “TWC” (now re-named “TWC Fight!”). “TWC” (which later went through another [and final) name change; “The Fight Network”) had to sacrifice their remaining programming and run repeats in order to get their TNA programming up to date, and after the Bravo network did a deal to broadcast “IMPACT!” and the PPV’s (“IMPACT!” on a 2-day delay and the PPV’s on a 3-day delay), the channel struggled until finally throwing in the proverbial towel in December 2008 and disappearing for good.
Bravo (who had previously broadcasted WCW Nitro from 2000-2001, ECW “Hardcore TV” in 2000 and the one-off Tommy Boyd-backed UK “Revival” show in 2002) was a great choice for TNA. Although the channel was subscription-based (it was part of Sky’s “Entertainment” package), it had a stronger presence than “TWC” (which wasn’t featured in the majority of TV listings and could only really be found by people who knew it was there) and went on to have a very successful partnership with Dixie Carter’s group (for example, the Bravo deal helped increase product awareness and allowed TNA to start touring the UK).
Bravo began broadcasting “IMPACT!” and the PPV events in January 2007 (“IMPACT!” was initially on Bravo 2, but it was eventually moved to Bravo when the ratings came out much better than expected; the PPV’s remained on Bravo 2) and it looked like both parties would be in it for the “long haul”. However, in January 2010, it became apparent that TNA Genesis would NOT be airing on any of Bravo’s channels (the irony is that, one year later, we find ourselves in a similar situation).
TNA “IMPACT!” remained, but the PPV’s were gone. Why did this happen? My theory (and please bare in mind, the actual reasons have never been divulged by either party) is that: A) TNA saw the high ratings “IMPACT!” had been getting following the appearances of well-known stars like Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Ric Flair etc and got greedy; demanding a higher price for the PPV events [Bravo then baulked at the demands and decided to just drop the events and retain “IMPACT!” or B) Bravo could no longer afford the PPV events [even at the original price] and decided it would be in their best interest to get rid of them.
Whatever the case, TNA PPV’s were now off UK TV. Or were they? TNA President Dixie Carter then announced that “Genesis” would be available to BT Vision customers (the big problem was that hardly anyone in the UK had BT Vision and those who didn’t weren’t willing to go through the hassle of having it installed at their house and paying for it when they already had Sky or cable). It was a disaster, TNA would have to strike a better deal soon.
The next PPV “Against All Odds” was in February. Again, it was a BT Vision job, although this time it was also available (at a price, and not a cheap one, either) via TNA’s “On Demand” service. Most UK TNA fans boycotted the online option (why pay [in $, no less] to watch something at 1 in the morning [when the majority of people have jobs to go to the next day] that will no doubt stream badly and not be repeated?]).
Thankfully, a deal was struck with Extreme Sports, who began broadcasting PPV events starting with “Destination X” in March (they also broadcasted the international “wrap-up” show “Xplosion).
But even that got off to a bad start. Extreme Sports cut off the broadcast early, causing fans to miss the second half of the Kurt Angle VS Mr Anderson match and the entire AJ Styles VS Abyss main event (Extreme later apologised and aired the show in its entirety soon after and to be fair to them, this mistake never happened again).
Later in the year, Extreme Sports also added TNA “Epics” to its schedule, which suggested that TNA Wrestling was a ratings winner for the channel and would likely be a long-term fixture on their network.
Alas, it wasn’t to be. TNA programming disappeared without a trace in the New Year. There was no announcement from either Extreme or TNA. Fans tuned in and it just wasn’t there anymore (it reminded me of the time ITV dropped WCW Worldwide Wrestling from it’s Wales/ West region in late 1994. My brother and I were getting ready to set the tape (it was on at a silly “night owl” time) and watch highlights of “Clash Of The Champions” the following day after school, and all of a sudden it was gone, never to return).
I have no idea why Extreme dropped TNA. I’m looking to e-mail them shortly, but I would speculate that it may have been ratings-related.
Now, I have no idea what sort of ratings TNA got on Extreme. However, I simply can’t believe that they were any lower than what “Kill Arman” and “Man Tracker” was getting (then again, I might be wrong). Surely, they were higher than whatever rating the ridiculous “Man VS Beast” show gets (this daft programme has actually replaced TNA in the 9PM slot, and this past week featured Boxing and former WCW ring announcer Michael Buffer announcing and giving analysis on a “hot-dog eating contest between a real grizzly bear and a Japanese world-eating record holder).
Perhaps Extreme were looking for the “cheaper option” and so TNA got the cut in favour of hot-dog-eating bears and jumbo jet-pulling elephants. Regardless, I think TNA should have made some sort of announcement, to keep UK TNA fans in the know (they already knew that “IMPACT!” was gone, losing “Xplosion” and the PPV’s is a double blow).
Getting back to the Bravo situation, “IMPACT!” is in limbo until a new channel is found. Because Sky now owns the Living Group channels, they hold all the cards and TNA are basically at their whim while they decide a new home and time-slot for “IMPACT!”
Personally speaking, I think TNA will HAVE to move to Living, Living It or Channel One. These channels have already picked up some of the previous Bravo shows, so the move would make sense.
People have speculated over whether TNA could move to Sky 1, Sky 2, Sky 3 or even Sky Sports, but I can’t see that happening. I know there’s been talk of this “is it there/ isn’t it there?” apparent “clause” that WWE has with Sky that prevents a “rival promotion” broadcasting on the same family of channels (it’s been rumoured for years that this was why WCW couldn’t get onto Sky back in early 1990’s and had to settle for ITV on terrestrial TV), but I don’t think Sky would want to inundate these channels with wrestling anyway (their argument would be that with WWE programming alone, they have enough already). If this “clause” actually exists, then this wouldn’t even be an option and even if it doesn’t, I also think that WWE would be weary of TNA moving in to “their territory (“IMPACT!” has often outperformed WWE in the ratings here in the UK) and may try and get Sky (who’s relationship with WWE goes as far back as Sky’s official launch in 1989) to reconsider their options.
In regards to the PPV’s (I can’t see “Xplosion” being a priority for any channel), this is a bit more tricky as Sky is only contractually obliged to carry over “IMPACT!” from Bravo. Sky Box Office may be an option (I for one wouldn’t object to this; I don’t mind paying for wrestling if it’s on at a good time and is available through my TV [and is of good quality, no pesky “delayed streaming”]), but then again WWE may have exclusive rights there (plus, even if they didn’t, I don’t think they’d be too happy with TNA “muscling in” [sorry, terrible pun] on their money-making perch, especially when an additional form of wrestling on the channel could potentially split the PPV audience and cause fans to choose one over the other (and at this point, I think a lot of UK fans would choose TNA, especially at times when WWE would be promoting “lesser” events like “Fatal Four-Way”).
ESPN is a possible candidate to take up the PPV’s, although they already have a full schedule and may not wish to spend their cash on wrestling.
Terrestrial TV isn’t even an option, in my opinion. I know a lot of people would like to see a mainstream, non-pay channel pick up TNA (and for brand awareness, it would be great for TNA, and would definitely give them an edge over WWE), but I can’t see it happening.
BBC is a definite “no-no”, ITV lost interest in wrestling back in 1995 when they officially dropped WCW from all their networks (they did briefly air Trans-Atlantic Wrestling in 2000, but that went over about as well as the proverbial fart in church), Channel 4’s association with wrestling between 2000-2002 (when they broadcasted WWF Heat and 4 WWF PPV’s a year) was disastrous (C4 decided to drop WWF programming as early as the first PPV of the deal, Royal Rumble 2000, when Cactus Jack and HHH butchered each other with barbed wire and thumb-tacks in their memorably violent “Street Fight” and OAP Mae Young had a “wardrobe malfunction” in the smutty “Miss Rumble 2000” swimsuit contest), and although Channel 5 (now Five) broadcasted WCW Worldwide in prime-time from 1999-2001, this was at the height of wrestling’s popularity in the UK, plus the footage was over a month old.
Put simply, wrestling simply isn’t a big enough deal for any terrestrial station to invest in it. Indeed, it may have a strong “hardcore” following from the likes of you and me, but the days of it being the “in” thing (and therefore attractive to a number of TV channels) have gone. These days, it’s a case of WWE and TNA being grateful they’ve got somewhere to output their product; it’s not like TV stations are having a “bidding war” over them.
It’s for the above reason that I advise TNA to take a deal, any deal with any channel, and be grateful for it.
Moving on to Genesis, even though I won’t be watching the show, I thought I’d give some predictions, just for fun:
#1 Contender's TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Matt Morgan VS Mr Anderson
I think TNA have built this one up really well. Morgan was the guy who stood up for the health and well-being of Anderson throughout the whole concussion saga. When Anderson returned, he took exception to Morgan questioning his decision to be “stubborn” and get back in the ring. Now at Genesis, it comes down to Morgan and Anderson: Two friends/ acquaintances batting it out to see who will face TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy (provided that the belt remains on Hardy or if Hardy even remains with TNA).
This should be a good match. I think the TNA fans will favour Ken Anderson over Matt Morgan and I think that the end result will be Anderson beating the “Blue-Print” to get the title shot he never really lost in the first place.
Winner: Mr Anderson
MMA Match:
Kurt Angle VS Jeff Jarrett
The “Double J MMA Challenge” has been ridiculous but at least it’s given us the return of Kurt Angle, who had a great 2010, despite being absent for the last half of it.
Angle has had his ups and downs and I still worry for the man when I see him perform death-defying, ill-advised neck-jarring moves with pain etched on his face and that “far away” look in his eyes. However, when he’s “on” and performing to his very best, he is a man without peer and is an asset to TNA (I just hope that his body isn’t secretly falling apart).
To his credit, Jarrett has played the “bully” and “cocky heel” role with gusto, to the point where one can’t wait for Angle to give “Double J” his “just desserts” at Genesis.
My prediction is that Angle will come close, but there will be some sort of screw-job finish that allows Jeff to scurry away and leave Angle seething (and banned from participating in future “MMA Exhibition” matches).
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
RVD VS “Immortal’s Mystery Opponent”
I have no idea who the “Mystery Opponent” is and wouldn’t like to hazard a guess. However, what I CAN see is that Van Dam has appeared generally miffed with TNA in his recent promos and appearances on “IMPACT!” (I’m not saying he genuinely is, it’s just the vibe I’m getting).
Bear in mind that this man has been out of the title picture ever since Abyss “carved him up” and has generally been “filling out” the mid-card ever since. I have no idea what sort of deal he signed with TNA, but it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he decided to leave the company as soon as it expires.
Whoever his opponent is, I see Van Dam losing here and moving further down the pecking order in TNA.
Winner: “Mystery Opponent”.
Brother Ray VS Brother Devon
Note to TNA: The world did NOT need another Brother Ray/ Brother Devon feud. These two work better as a tag-team (ECW knew it, and so did WWE, especially after they split them up in 2002 with disastrous results), although they’ve pretty much done it all now as a tandem.
I can see what TNA are trying to do here. They’ve signed Ray and Devon to new deals and are trying to get as much mileage out of them as possible, without repeating the same matches and routines they did as a tag-team. But it’s not working.
I fear that the TNA fans (who would probably rather see Team 3D retire as a tag-team rather than battle it out as singles stars) will switch off come bell time, leaving all concerned in an embarrassing situation.
I’ll admit that both Ray and Devon have tried very hard (Ray as the “bully”, Devon as the righteous fan-favourite) to get this feud over, but it hasn’t convinced me that’s worth seeing them go at it on PPV.
Winner: Brother Ray
TNA Knockouts Championship Match:
Madison Rayne VS Mickie James
Mickie “Hardcore Country” James finally gets her TNA Knockouts Championship Match against Madison Rayne, after drawing a line under her feud with Tara in an epic Cage Match on “IMPACT!”
Mickie has been great during her TNA run so far and Madison has excelled as the arrogant champion, managing to break away from the Beautiful People “understudy” stigma in the process.
This should be a great match, but I can’t see Mickie winning the gold just yet. Interference from Tara will ensure that the strap stays around the waist of the gorgeous Madison Rayne for now.
Winner: Madison Rayne
TNA Television Championship Match:
Douglas Williams VS AJ Styles
It’s “make or break” for AJ here, as it looks like if he comes up short at “Genesis”, he’s out of “Immortal” for good.
Doug will certainly give Styles a run for his money and has been a fighting champion ever since he unseated AJ for the gold at “Final Resolution.”
With the pressure on, I think Styles will regain the gold here, buying himself some more time in “Immortal” for a while yet.
Winner: AJ Styles
TNA X-Division Championship Match:
Jay Lethal VS Kazarian
“Immortal” has vowed to win all the gold they can at “Genesis” and with Lethal being a multiple-time X-Division Champion , I think the gold is likely to move to Kaz here, as it would have more benefit to him (that said, Kaz himself is a former X-Division Champion and is “above” the title IMO, however he doesn’t come across as much of a “stop-gap champion” like Jay Lethal).
Winner: Kazarian
TNA World Tag-Team Championship Match:
The Motor City Machine Guns VS Beer Money
These two teams can certainly do the business in the ring, but after the exhausting “Best Of Five” Series and more in 2010, we’ve already seen enough of these 4 going at it.
Because I think this will be “Immortal’s” night, I predict a title change here.
Winner: Beer Money
Overall, TNA Genesis looks like a great show and should be a solid start to the new year for the company. However, after giving my predictions, the question is, “Will I Be Watching It?”
The simple answer is “Not For That Price, Not At That Time, & Not On My Computer.” No thanks, TNA. I’ll wait for the DVD.
Previously posted on Smash Wrestling:
http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/
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