News broke today that Spike TV would not be renewing their television deal with TNA. The company – which is owned by Dixie Carter and currently employs Vince Russo – has had financial difficulties in the past.
In fact, it has almost become a joke to post pictures of TNA crowds on social media websites in recent weeks, as they more closely resemble the crowds one would find at a small county fair, not a touring professional wrestling promotion.
This recent TNA crowd perfectly illustrates why the company is having a hard time securing a television deal.
Although Spike TV decided not to renew TNA’s contract, the current deal still runs through October, providing the company with a few months to find a new home for Impact Wrestling. Initial reports indicate that there is little chance of that happening, however, as few cable providers will be willing to pay the company what Spike TV was paying to air TNA programming.
With their television revenue gone at the end of October and poor ticket sales not bringing in enough to keep the company afloat, Monday’s announcement was likely the death of TNA. With that said, it will be interesting to see if TNA’s departure from the world of televised wrestling will affect the WWE.
After acquiring WCW in March of 2001, the WWE held a virtual monopoly on the world of televised wrestling in the United States. That monopoly was eventually broken after Jeff Jarrett founded TNA in May of 2002. Although TNA has never provided the same level of competition that WCW brought to the table during the 1990s, it at least prevented the WWE from acting as a monopoly.
Other promotions have gained a sizable following in the United States (ROH, CZW, etc.), but TNA has been the only company the WWE had had to worry about finding on television.
If the company does go under, one possible scenario is the WWE becoming more complacent.Fans can already see this starting to take place, especially since the launch of the WWE Network. It seems the current philosophy at the WWE is, “take their money, put the belt on the most popular superstar, and hope for the best with the WWE Network.”
TNA recently brought back its six-sided ring in an attempt to differentiate itself from competitors.
TNA was never at risk of putting the WWE out of business, that’s for sure, but they were at least visible competition working to siphon fans away from the WWE. Most fans would agree that the quality of the WWE’s product had diminished significantly since the Attitude Era in the late 90s.
The company pushed the boundaries in the 90s in an attempt to create compelling television. They also developed a number of marketable superstars along the way. Since the collapse of WCW, the company has put less effort into developing marketable superstars and more effort into strengthening the brand as a whole, which is largely why John Cena has been the face of the company for over a decade. This trend would undoubtedly continue if TNA disappears.
Another possible scenario is that TNA finds a new television deal or means of distribution for its product. With streaming services appearing to be the future of content distribution, I would not be totally surprised to see TNA sign a deal with Netflix or YouTube to air its programming once a week. This could force the WWE to step up its game, especially if TNA becomes more popular as a result.
Ultimately, I hope that TNA finds a new deal before October. While not the biggest fan of the current TNA product, I recognize the value of competition in the world of professional wrestling. Even weak competition is better than no competition at all. If TNA folds completely, it could also have a negative effect on the WWE’s product as well.
How do you feel about TNA losing their television deal? Will they find a new deal by October, and will it affect the WWE? Voice your opinions in the comments section.
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