Impact Wrestling Moves to Destination America
Everything written below is my opinion as a wrestling fan I'm not a wrestling expert nor to I proclaim to be one just my perspective and my thoughts, with that said enjoy the blog!!! :)
It was announced today that Impact wrestling would be leaving Spike TV and moving to a new channel Destination America It has been known for some time that Spike TV were looking to go in a different direction with their channel and that they weren't going to re new programming with Impact wrestling.
Spike helped Impact by not coming out and saying that they were dropping impact and kept insisting that talks so were ongoing which in turn helped impact get a deal with new channel destination America.
It has been a difficult few months for impact wrestling but the news of having a new network and a new beginning can only be seen as a positive for the company a positive for Destination America and for the talent of impact wrestling.
Now a lot of people will question that and say that spike TV reach is wider and that impact will not been seen by as many eyes my argument to that is....look at the alternative if Impact had not landed on Destination America we would of had another wrestling company go under. I don't care what you think of impact personally it's important that there is another wrestling company on TV and that there is another place for the talent to work and showcase themselves and a another place where talent can get an opportunity.
Being from England where we have no full time British wrestling company on TV at all I can tell you that having impact on Destination America is a huge relief to us here in England. As impact airs on Challenge TV here in England and gets amazing ratings - English fans didn't want to lose impact or TNA so this is a plus for us too.
Also I would like to take this opportunity to appauld Dixie Carter here for getting a new deal done. Dixie herself and her family when Spike announced that they weren't re-signing TNA could of easily said 'that's it' and pulled out of the wrestling business taken their money and financing of impact wrestling and TNA and closed it down they didn't thankfully and got this deal done. It took patience and a lot of time and Dixie took a lot of flak but think now she's deserve a lot of the credit so well Done Dixie :)
Dixie Carter got destination usa deal done |
so what does this mean for impact going forward? Well Impact will be moving to destination America from January 2015 and will air on destination USA weekly. As for any further programming nothing has been announced so far, however I think and this is just my opinion that Impact could do some more programming and maybe have a catch up/talk show like British bootcamp breakdown a 30 min show full of talk and opinion would be a good addition to programming.
You can see the full press release below
Thanks for reading
@jon422002
Jonathan Orchard
"DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS ACQUIRES EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST RIGHTS TO TOP PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING LEAGUE, TNA IMPACT WRESTLING, FOR DESTINATION AMERICA
(Silver Spring, Md.) – Discovery Communications announced today that it has signed a multi-year deal with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) IMPACT WRESTLING to bring the popular league to homes nationwide on Destination America, the only network dedicated to celebrating the people, places and stories of the United States. Destination America officially enters the ring with its first world premiere of IMPACT WRESTLING in January 2015. The series features some of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley and Gail Kim. The partnership includes the U.S. premieres of additional TNA WRESTLING series and specials and provides Discovery Communications with international broadcasting rights in select regions, to be announced at a later date.
“Our partnership in this uniquely entertaining franchise with TNA IMPACT WRESTLING provides a significant addition to Destination America’s programming strategy,” said Henry Schleiff, Group President of Destination America, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel, Discovery Fit & Health and Discovery Family Channel. “The enduring, cross-generational enthusiasm of pro wrestling is felt by millions of fans around the country, from coast-to-coast and throughout the heartland. We are delighted to bring this beloved American pastime to the one and only network dedicated to celebrating the unique spirit of the U.S., Destination America.”
“Our knockout partnership with TNA IMPACT WRESTLING continues Destination America’s mission of bringing our viewers the best of all-American entertainment, and going center ring with one of the world’s foremost professional wrestling leagues fits perfectly within our DNA,” said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America. “Wrestling has created a fiercely loyal, passionate and widespread fan base, and we look forward to being part of the TNA family.”
“We are very excited about Destination America being the new network for IMPACT WRESTLING and the partnership with Discovery Communications both domestically and across the globe. Their commitment to promote and grow our brand in innovative and compelling ways was instrumental in knowing we had found the right home,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Together we will create an experience that takes our fans on a new journey that will push the envelope of technology, including where we take our cameras, going deeper into our superstars’ lives and showing the reality of what it takes to create a weekly professional wrestling show, all while showcasing the very best male and female athletes in the world.”
Since launching in 2012, Destination America has become one of cable’s top five fastest-growing networks*, earning 10 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth in Prime among P2+. With top series that explore unique American cultures and ways of life – including Mountain Monsters, A Haunting, Hillbilly Blood, Buying the Bayou, Buying Alaska, Ghost Asylum and BBQ Pitmasters – Destination America’s programming spans the nation from Alaska, Hawaii and Colorado to Louisiana, West Virginia and communities in between. To find Destination America, the new home of TNA’s IMPACT WRESTLING, go to destinationamerica.com/watchda.
TNA is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in TV properties, events, merchandise, music, and the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. TNA annually delivers more than 500 hours of original content to millions of fans around the world"
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