TNA's Television Fiasco

[Chris]

It's just been rumoured that TNA will take over the former WWE Velocity slot on Saturdays. The deal has not been finalised, but it appears awfully close.

Now, do you think this is a wise move for TNA? There are other options out there.

I am unsure about the whole Time Warner/AOL stipulations from the Titan Sports buyout of WCW, but as far as I know there's a "no compete" clause somewhere. If I'm correct, this means Turner's network cannot broadcast professional wrestling which could compete with WWE programming until 2006.

To put some relevence into that, would it have been wise for TNA to sign another deal on FSN for a year, then approach Turner with a deal to put TNA on TNT Monday nights? I don't live in the States, so I don't know what's currently on air Monday nights.

Will the move to Spike effect the ratings?

 

[TheOriginalSE]

I doubt the entire TNT thing because from what I've been hearing Turner is aching for the no compete clause to end so he can start up / buy another league to compete w/ WWF.

 

[Nova]

This article appears to have a nice amalgamation (+10pts) of opinions about the possibility of TNA going to Spike TV.

Major update on Spike TV/TNA; Monday night not likely?, Top star claims he'd jump to TNA
Submitted by Brian Cantor on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 5:00 PM EST

There are conflicting reports making rounds on Jeff Jarrett's meeting with Spike TV. PWTorch.com claims that Jarrett left the meeting "upbeat and optimistic" about the possibility of a TV deal on the network, in addition to stating that Spike TV is interested in capitalizing on a wrestling product with a track record and smaller price tag than WWE. However, WrestlingObserver.com claims there was little interest expressed on Spike's side. On the network's part, the feeling is that even if TNA could draw a 1.5, and its spot on FSN gives no guarantee that a 1.5 is possible, Spike could achieve more business success by running a re-run of an established series like CSI.

Various sources claim that the very fact that Jarrett is meeting with network officials bodes well for TNA's future. The promotion already met with a network about a better weekday cable deal, and a top pro wrestling star is claiming he'd seriously consider signing to TNA if it could secure clearance for a strong cable package. There also is animosity on Spike's part due to Vince's "pompous" demeanor in meetings, so getting the chance to compete with WWE wouldn't exactly be a bad thing in the network's eyes.

But, WrestlingObserver.com reminds fans that Spike and TNA are nowhere near reaching a deal for a Monday slot. Obviously, running TNA right after WWE jumped to another cable network could be a good ratings move, but there would have to be a huge boost in the network's confidence to sign such a deal. In any event, the meeting did happen and Jeff Jarrett did leave optimistic.

There ya go. I hope this happens. FSN can lick my balls, I never have that channel anywhere I go and I'd like to actually see a TNA show before the promotion goes down (if that's gonna be the end result of this fight to survive).

 

[Chris]

I read that exact piece of text approximately two months ago, which was put out before the end of TNA's FSN deal. Word is, Spike's notched TNA to fill the Velocity slot, which they hope will work well with the UFC deal to gain a similar number of viewers to what WWE had.

 

[Chris]

I've just realised something from OriginalSE's post.

TNA's focusing on the wrong rival.

Vince has no interest in TNA at the moment, and TNA isn't close to being a threat to the company. If the two companies were to compete, WWE would most certainly win since their finances run into the billions.

TNA needs to focus on securing themselves in case Turner decided to start a new promotion. Through the WCW buyout, WWE contracted over half of WCW's active roster. The majority of the roster seem content with their positions in WWE at present as well, meaning Turner would need to seek new stars.

And since TNA's run on a "pay-weekly-turn-up" basis rather than through a fixed-term contract, Turner could easily hire TNA's talent.

TNA's got numerous problems and insecurities in the way it is run at the moment. They have been without television for weeks now, meaning bigger names haven't recieved the exposure they were promised from the company, even if they were broadcase on an uncommon network. Turner, on the other hand, owns his own network. TNA also don't offer as much to their roster as Turner did through WCW. TNA also don't have the sort of finances that Turner and AOL/Warner do.

So what they need to do is focus on building a roster of full-time competitors. They also need to obtain a larger fanbase and more money, which they could easily to through touring. Touring would get that the extra bit of exposure the needed, giving them more money overall and making it more possible for them to air on primetime television.

If they don't, then Turner will either buy them out or run them out of business.

 

[Owen]

So many things wrong with this last post... don't know where to start... brain... about to shudown.

1. Vince is most certainly interested in TNA. Just in the past few months we've seen Vince snap up Frankie Kazarian, nearly grab Abyss and Monte Brown, and most recently he's nabbed Kid Kash in the wake of the ECW revival. TNA may not be an immediate threat to Vince but it's certainly on his radar to the point where he's picking off some of their better talents.

2. TNA has begun to secure it's top names as evidenced by this quote from TNAWrestling.com: "TNA is in the process of signing all of its talent to long term agreements." That blurb came with the news that AJ Style and Chris Daniels signed multi year deals last month and I'd say that those are two of TNA's top five stars (along with Abyss, Raven, and Monte). Actually TNA inked most of their guys to concrete deals some time ago when they asked them to stop working independents not approved by TNA, now they're simply putting longer term deals in place.

3. Part of the reason for the shutdown/sell of WCW was the fact that Ted Turner stepped down as President of Turner Television. Given all the mergers and the numerous fingers now in the Turner honey pot Billionare Ted no longer has the ability to simply order the creation of a new wrestling company and secure that company a prime spot on one of the Turner family of networks. Yes the rumor mill has rumbled for awhile about Ted's interest to re-enter the "rasslin" biz but it's not as simple as a snap of the fingers anymore. Just think about the creation of WCW; when Turner bought Jim Crockett Promotions in '88 "WCW" had been airing on TBS for 3 years under the deal Crockett had struck with McMahon to buy the timeslot in '85. Turner bought a fully functional wrestling promotion with a loyal fanbase and then he set straight into hiring on the biggest stars in the business. Notice that Turner didn't hire the Shawn Michaels and Bret Harts of 1988 because back then they were midlevel stars at best just as men like AJ Styles and Chris Daniels are today. Turner's plan was to simply out spend Vince and steal away all of the names Vince had made into nationally recognized stars. It was quick and dirty and it couldn't last forever... and it didn't. That's how a business man runs a wrestling promotion and I don't see anything to indicate that Ted, who would now have to PROVE to shareholders that his little "rasslin show" would make money, would use any different strategy this time around. AJ Styles is not Hulk Hogan, Abyss is not Macho Man, Chris Daniels is not Scott Hall, and Monte Brown is not Kevin Nash. Those names wouldn't give a sure return on the investment so they'd never be hired. Could they be stolen away for the low card? Maybe, but as I said, TNA is securing all it's talents to long term deals so either way it's unlikely.

4. Touring doesn't make a company money. Why do you think WWE runs almost ZERO House Shows these days? It's not cost effective. You've got to rent a building or atleast give up a percentage of the gate for the use of it. Your talent has to travel which means extra cash outta their pockets (even WWE stars pay their way on the road 95% of the time) which may in turn mean they'll demand to be paid more to cover this new expense. You've gotta transport everything and that means the ring, the sets, the lights, the equipment, and a crew to run it all and set it all up. You have to run ads in the market to get people to the shows which will not only cost you for the ad time but since you're touring city-to-city you've got to hire an ad firm to coordinate all these ads so that they start 2 weeks before you arrive in each town on radio, TV, and in print. After all that, and plenty more I didn't mention, you finally get a chance to make a little money by selling merchandise. Look at the figures from a WWE House Show sometime, they make most of the money off of merch and it's not alot. Why do you think ECW toured almost exclusively from New York to Philly and all points in between? It's always cheaper to stay in a small area and run your shows as opposed to touring the nation. Companies like CZW and ROH are using the same idea right now to keep themselves afloat.

If Turner really wants a promotion his best bet is to buy TNA which I hope never happens. Despite the rumors I don't foresee a Turner backed promotion moving forward anytime in the near future. Now perhaps if TNA does get a good TV deal and starts hitting in the low 2's on ratings (unlikely) Turner may actually be able to use that as fuel to convince the AOL/Time Warner folks to allow the return of wrestling to the family.

 

[Jesse Jamester]

If Turner bought TNA, Jeff Jarret would no longer be champ, and I'd be satisfied...

*nods*

Thats all i want.

 

[Chris]

I agree with the majority of your statement there, Owen. You've definately poined out a couple of things I overlooked. Some I even knew. I knew AJ and Daniels signed three year deals, as well as the majority of TNA wrestlers only being authorised to compete in affiliated promotions, such as Ring of Honor.

I'm not sure I'd agree with you stating that Vince is scoping members from TNA. He's decided to hire Kazarian and Gilberti from the promotion, I agree.

The WCW shut down wasn't so much down to Turner stepping down as the president of TBS. I'll explain. The company was in decline ever since the nWo buzz died down. Bischoff was replaced by Fererra and Russo, who didn't do the company any favours. So, we hit 2001. The TBS/WB merge with AOL. The company decides to cut all assets which are losing money, and WCW was one of them.

Now, at this time, Bischoff was working for the company. When news lept that the company was to be sold, Eric found a backer, who was going to pay $80 million for it. Bischoff also closed a television deal on Fox. I can't remember the name, but the AOL executive responsible for the company's selling stated he wanted it to stay on the network. Bischoff refused, so the company was not sold to him. It was sold instead to Vince.

I'll try to get more names later on today, since I have an in-depth article on it somewhere.

Turner was also inept with wrestling; he knew nothing. That's why people like Verne Gange, Jim Herd and Dusty Rhodes were appointed. I remember someone (again, the name is shady) was bringing in youger stars, such as Brian Pillman and Steve Austin, before Gagne. When Verne took over, he brought in people loyal to him, such as Iron Sheik. People like Bossman, Roberts and Bulldog appeared around this time too, but they weren't purchased directly from Vince.

It wasn't until 1994 when WCW began to bring in former WCW talent. This was down to Bischoff, who persuaded Turner that in order to increase the fanbase they needed established names. This is when they began spending the money on Hogan, Savage, Luger, etc.

Touring increases a company's fanbase, which overall leads to more followers and more money. I didn't mean that touring itself brought the company oodles of money. Although if you look at the way they run shows now, where people need to travel to see shows, you can see what I mean.

Apologies if some of this doesn't make too much sense; I pulled a nightshift last night and have only just really gotten up, with the exception of small intervals on the net. Need damn sleep.

 

[OGwitaBullet]

I agree with Jesse Jamester. Ted Turner should purchase TNA, therefore making them a real threat to the WWE, and having equal or more finances. They'll also get wrestlers like WCW had in their heyday. DDP (already signed), Sting (already been there, so what's to say he won't come back with Ted Diesel runnin the show. Speakin of DIesel. Kevin Nash, so TNA has almost all of the WCW guys worth having.

 

[GARTHIsTheLaw]

Neither Diamond Dallas Page nor Kevin Nash is still under TNA contract. Nash was let go when he crippled himself for the 600th time a couple months back and DDP got canned when they changed head bookers. At any rate, I can't see Ted Turner getting back into the wrasslin' business anytime soon; it's on too much of a downswing right now.

That said, it HAS been officially announced that TNA will get the WWE Velocity spot once WWE moves back to USA in the fall. And I'm sure glad I didn't post my opinion that TNA will never get a TV deal on this board, so at least here I don't have to eat my words.

 

[The Guy]

I can't see why Ted would want to even get back into the wrestling business when WCW lost him so much money in the end.

Oh and WWE still does plenty of house shows and are exactlly spending more on house shows by having bigger names appear. Now you can see Batista, Cena, HHH, Taker, etc. House shows make money because it does not cost nearly as much as a Raw or Smackdown show. So they tend to sell out more. And usually house shows are always centered around where Raw and Smackdown or PPVs are happening so the wrestlers are already in the area. So tavel isn't as bad as you may thing. There is house shows on today, tomorrow, Raw (w/Smackdown Houseshow), another house show, etc. So I can't see how the WWE runs zero house shows when for the next four days in a row they have house shows.