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Spike TV Going In New Direction


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wrestlezone.com

 

At the PROMAX/BDA annual conference of marketing executives two weeks ago, Spike TV made it clear they intend on rebranding and trying to change its image from a station mainly targeting males 18-34 to both males and females 18-49.

 

The network is expecting to lose UFC programming and what this new direction change means for TNA and the weekly Impact Wrestling show is unknown. The show continues to draw well demographic wise and averages anywhere from 1.6-1.8 million viewers per week.

 

If Spike was to drop TNA, it would mean the end of the company unless they were able to secure another television deal. It doesn't appear likely given that it doubles the network's current average rating and is not expensive based on network standards for first-run programming.

 

So while it would feel like the show is safe, anything is possible with this new direction change by Spike. It should be noted that Spike made no mention at all about TNA at the conference and instead focused on other shows with a passing reference to UFC.

 

 

 

Anyone want to comment on this?

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It doesn't appear likely given that it doubles the network's current average rating and is not expensive based on network standards for first-run programming.

What is there to comment on? This says it all. Compared to the rest of the shit they get on that channel, TNA is still one of their biggest assets. And they signed a long term deal with them about 18 months ago. TNA wont get kicked off Spike.

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Spiek TV going to new direction

 

You mean they're going to start showing wrestling? ZING!

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You mean they're going to start showing wrestling? ZING!

Spike TV were going to do a remake of Londons Burning staring Davey Richards. But like art imitating life, he didnt meet the height requirements and had to trot off back to doing his Benoit tribute act again. Because his girlfriend told him to.

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Spike TV were going to do a remake of Londons Burning staring Davey Richards. But like art imitating life, he didnt meet the height requirements and had to trot off back to doing his Benoit tribute act again. Because his girlfriend told him to.

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

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Spike TV is going to start targeting the female demographic too? Fuckin' hell, imagine the TV crossovers then. Like TNA with a programme such as... I don't know, Jersey Shore?

Great, we'll get more "You're a dirty bitch whore", "No, you're a dirty bitch ho slut" segments on Impact Wrestling.

 

People really think a decent rating and a long term contract is enough for wrestling in TV land? Need I remind you of Nitro getting canned when they wanted to go in a different direction, despite having double the rating of Impact and a more established brand. TNA isn't bullet proof, Spike has pumped a lot of money into TNA since Hogoff and they've had little return ratings-wise. Maybe they'll decide it hasn't got legs.

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Great, we'll get more "You're a dirty bitch whore", "No, you're a dirty bitch ho slut" segments on Impact Wrestling.

 

People really think a decent rating and a long term contract is enough for wrestling in TV land? Need I remind you of Nitro getting canned when they wanted to go in a different direction, despite having double the rating of Impact and a more established brand. TNA isn't bullet proof, Spike has pumped a lot of money into TNA since Hogoff and they've had little return ratings-wise. Maybe they'll decide it hasn't got legs.

 

Didn't Ian just say it's the highest-rated programme they've got?

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Need I remind you of Nitro getting canned when they wanted to go in a different direction

Thats completely different. They couldnt legally terminate Nitro under the ownership of the people who initially signed it. Once WCW was sold they said "you can have the assets, but your TV contract is no longer valid". It wasnt about moving into another direction. Time Warner sold WCW and there for no longer wanted it on Turner Broadcasting. Spike signed TNA for 5 years about 18 months ago. Spike dont need to pump money into TNA. They choose to. Since Turner/Time Warner owned and broadcast WCW, they were fully involved in it. I cant see TNA getting kicked off Spike. Once the contract runs out, its possible, but before then, I cant see it happening. It wouldnt be worth it.

 

Didn't Ian just say it's the highest-rated programme they've got?

I said its one of the highest. And at one time was the highest. Unsure of what is the highest rated, but TNA cant be far off. Spike isnt BBC2 or anything. TNA costs them nothing (unless they want to invest, as they have done) and they get a guarenteed audience of around 2 million a week. It might not be much to some knobber from the Figure4 Board~ or even compared to Smackdown, but its better than a kick in the bread tray.

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Thats completely different. They couldnt legally terminate Nitro under the ownership of the people who initially signed it. Once WCW was sold they said "you can have the assets, but your TV contract is no longer valid". It wasnt about moving into another direction. Time Warner sold WCW and there for no longer wanted it on Turner Broadcasting. Spike signed TNA for 5 years about 18 months ago. Spike dont need to pump money into TNA. They choose to. Since Turner/Time Warner owned and broadcast WCW, they were fully involved in it. I cant see TNA getting kicked off Spike. Once the contract runs out, its possible, but before then, I cant see it happening. It wouldnt be worth it.

I'd say them not wanting wrestling, after having it on their network for so many decades is a big change in direction. The fact still remains that a bigger drawing wrestling company was punted off the air.

 

Spike pumped money into TNA to get bigger ratings, not for vanity. They've done a lot for TNA and the cash they invested has produced a .1 rating improvement. People at the network are hardly going to be chuffed.

 

I agree, TNA is unlikely to get the boot. But my point is, it's not impossible. Especially if Spike decide after UFC is gone that they want to get away from the 'lad'/low brow stuff.

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But my point is, it's not impossible.

I never said it was. I'm saying Spike and TNA's situation is far different from WCW and TNT's situation. The company who owned TNT was the one who sold WCW. If Time Warner saw any future in WCW, they wouldnt have sold them. They wanted to wash their hands of it.

 

They've done a lot for TNA and the cash they invested has produced a .1 rating improvement. People at the network are hardly going to be chuffed.

They get 2 hours of original programming per week which they dont need to produce themselves. A wrestling show is pretty self independent compared to a sitcom or CSI or something. And when the numbers are higher than most of what your current schedule is, you cant complain. If they werent happy with it, they werent happy with it, they wouldnt have resigned for 5 years with them. And its a misconception that Spike TV is plowing money into TNA. Panda Energy pays for the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flairs contracts, not Spike. Spike have put more money into TNA pre-2010 than after it. Its why TNA has so little money to spend these days. Its TNA taking the hit because big names like Hogan and Flair arent going to put themselves in a situation where if TNA goes bust or Spike decides not to keen TNA, they are out of pocket. If TNA goes tits up, Hogan and Flair will still be paid by Panda. Sure Spike helps out, but any good network would anyway.

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Didn't Ian just say it's the highest-rated programme they've got?

 

Yeah but that's not the point, this is tna, and tna getting a 1.6 million rating (from nothing, in under a decade) couldn't be good enough.

And Nitro was far from the highest rated show on the network when it got the boot, and costing a hell of a lot more than impact, and declining in ratings rapidly, the situation is nothing like impact at all, and really can't be compared.

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