NWATNA TV deal

[Darwin Henderson]

At this point, it seems like that TNA will buy a weekly timeslot on WGN for
an estimated $50,000 a week. The plan is to begin airing their weekly WGN
show in mid-January.

This is a huge risk for TNA which by all indications is losing money right
now. It is estimated that they are doing between 8,200 and 12,500 buys per
week. TNA pockets about $4.20 of the $9.95 PPV price, resulting in roughly
$43,000 per week. The cost of running a TNA PPV is roughly $85,000 per week.
They also make about $5,000 from their gate, but obviously they are in the
red.

However, the general feeling is that for TNA to ever become a success, it
will need to have free TV to stimulate weekly PPV buys.

The discussed timeslot right now is 10AM ET on Saturday mornings, which
would be horrible for them. WGN is also not proven as a national network
like other channels of its kind are (TBS). WGN does air nationally for the
most part, but does not promote nationally, thus making it a glorified
Chicago channel.

TNA is hoping that they will be able to do a good rating on WGN which would
put them in a position to get a better TV deal. Of course, they could lose a
significant portion of their money on this risk.

The plan is to do an upgraded Xplosion show for WGN. The show would be
similar to the current Xplosion but feature one main event level match.

Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[Paranoid Rattlesnake]

Oh well they'll be skint sooner than i thought, shame but if they take that deal they want shooting.

[KayfabeMan]

If it ain't broke,don't try to fix it...I think that while TNA may be losing
money right now,this could be a venture that could bankrupt them.The
PPV format is losing money,but if they did a little creative booking,and
spent the money they plan on using for the WGN deal on some good PR
and placement of stars in every media outlet possible,it could definitely
help them :y:

I hope whatever choice they decide to make that it works out,because
while the booking is getting shabby,they provide a nice alternative,and
have some great talents (AJ Styles,David Young,Jarrett,Watts,Legend,
Daniels,etc..).

[AareDub]

I'd watch it on WGN if they could a better time slot. Saturday morning just usually isn't when I'm in the mood for wrestling (or being awake).

[Kane Knight]

I'd watch it on WGN if they could a better time slot. Saturday morning just usually isn't when I'm in the mood for wrestling (or being awake).

I'd watch it on WGN if I thought I got it, but I don't believe I do.

[Rob]

If it ain't broke,don't try to fix it...I think that while TNA may be losing
money right now,this could be a venture that could bankrupt them.The
PPV format is losing money,but if they did a little creative booking,and
spent the money they plan on using for the WGN deal on some good PR
and placement of stars in every media outlet possible,it could definitely
help them :y:


It is broke though.

And when you start paying for TV, you dig yourself a hole you can't get out of.

[Kane Knight]

It is broke though.

I agree.

[Gertner]

argh, legend is terrible

[Bazooka]

I saw Legend wrestle back in July when I saw a bit of it at a friends camp. Legend was actually good. He didn't display much tonight, for me to decide whether he was good or not.

[Vega]

WGN? WTF is that? Never heard of it.

Also, 10 AM is ass and nobody will be awake that early.

[Corkscrewed]

Well, it's do or die. If they don't get this, they'll never be more than a cult hit. This is a huge risk, but it affords them the POSSIBILITY of success, and I wish them the best of luck.

Funny enough, I get WGN at my dorm but not TNN. Go figure.

[Bad Guy]

WGN is (I'm guessing) a station based out of Chicago (which, strangely I get here in Vegas :wtf: ) The only reason I say that is because every damn time i flip through it, there is always the bulls, or blackhawks or cubs playing on that channel.

[Bad Guy]

Now, my personal opinion. Very bad move. I don't know if they are a big enough company or not yet, but I just don't think they have drawn enough interest. Plus, Saturday's at 10 in the morning? Not going to work. And can they afford $50k a week? But looking at it, that was really the only offer they had, and I guess they took it. All or nothing is correct.

[lariat]

We get WGN here in the middle of South Central Pennsylvania. I watch it a lot, because they always have Chicago sports on. They also air a lot of the same programming during the evening that TBS does. They aren't quite a national station, especially since at 9 PM CT they air local news for Chicago.

[SuperSlim]

well it looks like I'll be up watchin tv at 10 in the mornin to catch TNA next year.

[Jordan]

TNA would be well off going against Heat or something I think. Or Raw, they could probably score around the 2's.

[FakeLaser]

Saturday morning wrestling was cool when I was 7.

[FakeLaser]

TNA would be well off going against Heat or something I think. Or Raw, they could probably score around the 2's.
HAHAHA, yeah right. Against RAW they wouldn't even score a 1.0. ECW had trouble in 1999; arguably the most popular year for wrestling; pulling off a 1.0 unopposed on a more nationally syndicated network. ECW also had a much larger fanbase at that time than TNA does.

[Fryza]

I get that station :love:

[DXJerky-Version 2.5]

If it ain't broke,don't try to fix it...I think that while TNA may be losing
money right now,this could be a venture that could bankrupt them.

Uh, if they don't do something, they will go bankrupt :yes:

[thebitch]

Well, the 50K a week will hurt them for a while, but they need to get rid of the weekly PPV format. If they do one monthly PPV, and use this TV timeslot to build up thier events, I think they'd make more money.

Not to mention, this TV timeslot will cost them 50K-advertising. They get paid to have somebody advertise during thier show.