Second Largest Pro-Wrestling Organization May Lose TV Slot
A popular professional wrestling organization might lose its presence on television due to a failure to reach an agreement for a renewal of a contract with the channel that airs its programming.
Total Nonstop Action, a pro-wrestling organization whose main program, "Impact" draws an average of 1.4 million viewers weekly, remains in contract negotiations with Spike TV.
TNA's contract with Spike is scheduled to expire in October unless the two parties can reach an agreement that will keep the pro-wrestling organization on its Thursday evening slot.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
David Schwarz, spokesman for Spike TV, told The Christian Post earlier this month that his company "won't comment on ongoing negotiations," but that he would share "pertinent information" when it arrives.
On Friday morning, Schwarz told CP that while negotiations are ongoing, there is "nothing to report at this time."
TNA was also contacted by CP, but they did not provide comment by press time.
Founded in 2002 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, TNA's "Impact" debuted on Spike TV in October 2005.
Its television presence has led it to be the second largest pro-wrestling company in the United States, behind World Wrestling Entertainment.
Earlier this summer rumors broke out on various online pro-wrestling websites that Spike TV might not renew its contract with TNA.
Mike Killam of Wrestlezone.com reported in late July that rumors abounded of meetings being held between Spike TV and TNA, with the former being uninterested in renewing the contract.
"While the following rumor remains unconfirmed, multiple sources close to both TNA and the network have informed WZ that SpikeTV does not want to renew its contract with TNA Wrestling," wrote Killam.
"It is possible the two sides are still trying to come to some sort of agreement, but at this point that's what we know."
Rumors also noted that there was "no bad blood" between the two parties, according to the celebrity gossip website TMZ.
"TNA's current deal with Spike reportedly runs through October. It's unclear at this point when "Impact Wrestling" will stop airing on Spike," reported TMZ staff.
"We're told there's no bad blood, and Spike gave TNA such advance notice so it would have time to shop for a new TV deal."
In response to the rumors and claims of many pro-wrestling sites and observers, TNA President Dixie Carter told Ring Rust Radio last week that talks were still on-going.
"Every two years I go through this. This is just the first public negotiation I've ever had. I think social media has really changed this kind of thing. I'm used to every two years negotiating with Spike and negotiating with other networks," said Carter.
"This time is absolutely not any different. We're still talking with them, but there are other people, thank God, that are interested in our product."
