Major Update On TNA/SpikeTV; Start Date, Timeslot, & Other Specifics
By Matthew Boone
06/23/2005 - Credit: PWTorch.com Newsletter
As noted earlier this week following an article in Multichannel News, TNA is said to be close to signing a deal with SpikeTV to start airing TNA programming on Saturday nights beginning in October. The show would take place in a one-hour, late-night timeslot following "The Ultimate Fighter" reality-program from UFC. It should be noted that nothing has been confirmed from either party regarding these talks.
With WWE moving their programming back to the USA Network in the fall, many feel TNA could benefit from an already built-in pro wrestling audience on SpikeTV as TNA would basically be replacing the WWE Velocity program. If a deal was to be finalized in the next few months, SpikeTV could easily promote the debut of TNA during WWE programs until the end of September. This would give TNA some valuable exposure to WWE's current viewing audience.
What it really comes down to at this time is how good the deal is structured and whether TNA is going to be buying the timeslot and paying for all production costs, or if SpikeTV is willing to share in production costs and split ad revenue. If ratings were strong for TNA, it is possible SpikeTV could move the show to a better timeslot. A Monday night timeslot going head-to-head with RAW on the USA Network may not be possible at the moment due to SpikeTV acquiring numerous amounts of syndicated programming in their Monday-Friday timeframe, including the highly rated CSI series. Again, nothing has been confirmed by either party, but we will continue to keep everyone posted on this developing situation.
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