– As posted on TNAWrestling.com, here is a full press release issued today on the SpikeTV/TNA deal:
TNA iMPACT! TO TELECAST ON SPIKE TV!
New York, NY (July 21, 2005) – TNA Entertainment, LLC has signed a deal with Spike TV to telecast TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling’s weekly action athletic entertainment series “iMPACT!” The weekly one-hour show will join Spike TV’s popular “Slammin’ Saturday Night” programming block starting this Fall, taping at Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL.
“We are thrilled to be coming to Spike TV,” said Dixie Carter, President, TNA Entertainment, LLC. “We look forward to bringing our exciting style of Total Non-stop Action and entertainment to their male viewers.”
The new wrestling alternative, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s iMPACT! delivers a distinct brand of high-risk, live-action athletic entertainment. TNA’s roster includes some of the most exciting and recognizable stars in wrestling today such as, Jeff Jarrett, Raven, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, Abyss, Sean Waltman, Christopher Daniels, Monty Brown and others. TNA features the high-flying “X Division,” the “Six-Sided Ring,” and concept matches such as “Ultimate X,” “King of the Mountain,” and “Six Sides of Steel.”
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Nashville, TN. TNA programming is currently available in 118 countries. TNA is also available on monthly pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network and TVN as well as Viewer’s Choice, Bell ExpressVu and Shaw PPV in Canada. The names of all Total Nonstop Action Wrestling televised programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and all TNA Wrestling logos and trademarks are exclusive property of TNA Entertainment, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information, visit www.tnawrestling.com.
Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 88 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
– WrestlingObserver.com’s Dave Meltzer is reporting that the first episode will likely air on either October 1 or 8, with the first TV taping to take place on 9/27/05.
– PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson is reporting that on a company conference call today, TNA head Dixie Carter used the phrase “prime time” for when the show will air. It has been thought that TNA would take over the 11pm “Velocity” slot, but it may end up being a it earlier. She also announced that the company would go back to taping two episodes of iMPACT! every other Tuesday at Universal Studios, and that wrestlers who worked more than one episode per taping would be paid twice.
