TNA... Gotta Crawl before they walk?

[roach21]

Obviously with no new "surprises" TNA ratings went straight to hell. No doubt Austin and the Wrestlemania build up helped contribute to that. But even last week, the replay show on Thursday scored just as high as the live show.

Does anyone think it may be smart for TNA to put on a live show Thursday nights and build up an audience before trying to go head to head with Vince on Mondays? Or if not that, at least start earlier. I feel like with no new signees fans have no reason to change from the WWE show.

[Xero]

Not live on Thursday, but they really shouldn't be going against RAW. This is a show that hasn't seen a growth in audience in at least two years, probably more. Why would you move against the competition and expect your ratings to rise? That's exactly the opposite of what you should do in this situation.

Now, if they were in the middle of a steady rise I'd say go for it, but they're not.

[Nicky Fives]

They have a hard enough time writing for one "live" show, so what would make you think they could write a second..... I for one am not too keen on seeing Hogan/Bischoff on my TV screen for one hour a week split between 2 shows..... it would be great if they could actually use all their talent properly, giving guys like Beer Money/MCMG/Desmond/Pope/Joe/etc. actually enough TV time so that they can get over, but sadly I imagine that it will be another episode of Hogan, Bischoff & Friends Hour

[The Show Off]

TNA not only tried to walk before they could crawl, they tried to drive a stick shift before they could crawl.

[roach21]

[QUOTE=Nicky Fives;2984953]They have a hard enough time writing for one "live" show, so what would make you think they could write a second..... I for one am not too keen on seeing Hogan/Bischoff on my TV screen for one hour a week split between 2 shows.....

I meant go live on Thursdays instead of Mondays since their replay did the same number on that night last week anyways. Plus they won't be competing with fans who may want to tune in, but aren't compelled enough to choose between that and Raw.

Does anyone know if DVR counts to the ratings? That may be something to consider as well. Maybe a lot of people are recording TNA for later and actually watching Raw?

[XL]

If ahything the should have gone live against SmackDown to start things off.

[jskinnyg]

Not live on Thursday, but they really shouldn't be going against RAW. This is a show that hasn't seen a growth in audience in at least two years, probably more. Why would you move against the competition and expect your ratings to rise? That's exactly the opposite of what you should do in this situation.

Now, if they were in the middle of a steady rise I'd say go for it, but they're not.

Exactly... I just posted something on another thread about this... But Xero sums it up for me here...

[Jordan]

Well what TNA really need to do is stop trying to be the number one company. It's not going to happen if you force it. It it ever happens it will take years and years. TNA should be happy with trying to put on a good product. They have a fan base that they can make money from, enough money to sustain business, so work with those people, make the show good for them and then other viewers will follow over time.

Stick with being an alternative to WWE, that will get enough viewers to make it successful.

[roach21]

Well what TNA really need to do is stop trying to be the number one company. It's not going to happen if you force it. It it ever happens it will take years and years. TNA should be happy with trying to put on a good product. They have a fan base that they can make money from, enough money to sustain business, so work with those people, make the show good for them and then other viewers will follow over time.

Stick with being an alternative to WWE, that will get enough viewers to make it successful.

Years or a competitive billionaire.

[FourFifty]

Yes, you have to crawl before you walk, however how many years have they been crawling?

I'm not saying success is instant. It never is. However, they have made a lot of bad choices over the years. The six sided ring, bad gimmick matches, pushing older people that have no potential as opposed to their own talent, etc etc etc. They COULD be good, great even.... If they just burned down the dead wood. A big name is not always a draw, nor is a big name match. WWE gets ratings for giving us the same stuff week in and week out. TNA, on the other hand, in their attempt to be different and cutting edge they're failing.
My advice to TNA- Be more like WWE. Yes, this will piss off a lot of hardcore fans (all 5 of them) but from a fiscal stand point it should benifit them.

[Damian Rey]

I think they needed to build a better, more defined mid and main event card roster. Right now, with the way their booking works, it wouldn't be highly improbable to see Orlando Jordan pin AJ Styles. That can be a great asset, as unpredicability is nice. But with TNA, it's more inconsistency. When you look at their roster, they have no real uber face, uber heel, up and comer, monster heel/face, dominant tag team, mid card mainstay, nothing.

That roster is packed with talent needing either direction or more tv time. Matt Morgan should be a guy who is plowing through the roster left and right on a rise to being a dominant heel champion. Pope could be the up and comer. Desmond Wolf the mainstay in the mid card (for now). But as of this moment, these guys seem to be getting shuffled through the deck waiting for their card to be drawn.

[Wishbone]

TNA was stupid to even think they could go head to head with RAW they are no where near ready to do this at this point it's not a monday night war it's a monday night old woman vs 50 mph bus

[The Mackem]

Nothing TNA has ever been crawling

They started in 2002 post attitude, falling wrestling fanbase.

They almost went bankrupt in their first few months

Held weekly ppv's for the first two years which was a new concept which they tried but accepted that it did not work

Had their first TV show within their first two years with FSN, shortly after having their first 'monthly PPV'.

Lost the TV deal the next year

Signed with Spike four months later, airing on the internet in the meantime

Went two hours, two years later

Decided to go head to head with Raw just over two years after that

I find it remarkable what they have acheived in a short space of time from nothing. They do need to slow down, continue to improve their own product and worry less about the WWE.

[Jordan]

Thats all very good to point out Mackem. They have done some amazing things. However, the idea I am running with is that TNA needs to stop worrying about being better or being number one, or beating WWE. Because, it's not going to happen anytime soon, no matter what they do, who they sign, or how good the show is. Its simple, Raw has been on USA for the better part of 15 years or so, Impact! has been around for 5 or 6, and on Spike for about two I guess. And not as many people get/watch Spike TV as they do USA.

If Spike TV is willing to go half a year with dead end ratings on Monday Nights, until possibly TNA does something right when WWE does something wrong, then maybe Impact on Monday will be a success.

It took WCW a long time to get their shit together enough to compete with WWE.

TNA is in about the same position WCW was in 94. WCW toured more however, and held shows outside of Universal, which helped them a lot.

TNA just needs to hit southern wrestling hot spots, of course all the big cities and resorts in Florida, Gerogia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Then maybe worth the Carolina's. Basically hit the WCW market. Then go west and up instead of East.

All of these TNA Stars who came from WCW or WWE, they all have this hunger to beat Vince McMahon's ass because he knew that they weren't good enough for WWE any more. They are all pissed off at him, and that is making this way to personal. There are to many mentions of all things WWE on TNA's programing. Why was a WWE HOF ring angle used on a TNA Impact! That just says "WWE is bigger than us, so big we will have to use them and credit them as such".

TNA now has a history, if they wished to invest in it, they could make some serious money off of it. TNA needs to treat their past like it was gold, like "NWA:TNA was comparable to WWWF".

I feel like TNA's continually hires the wrong guys. They are constantly trying to show up McMahon, when people who watch Impact, just want to get away from all things McMahon.

Most people will never buy TNA as a better company when they switch channels from Raw live at MSG and TNA is in the jam packed Impact Zone. I'm sorry to say, but it's getting time where they need to build their market in other places. If that includes giving away free tickets for a year, fucking do it.

TNA can draw 4,000 people to a well promoted Impact, they can do 6,000 for a decent PPV, if they would just use their talents at their disposal, instead of always trying to buy a new fix.

[The Mackem]

I agree with your ideas but for some reason they want to achieve some sort of competition with WWE without spending any money besides that on talent. I dare say you could cut quite a few non essential workers from the roster to help with touring etc. I don't see how only taping Impact in Florida helps increase their US popularity which should be done above cost savings. If it's that much of a high cost, why not once a month or similar. I'm sure there is a workable solution.

The WWE name dropping thing is ridiculous considering there are people there who used to trash WWF on WCW television which did absoloutely nothing to help them. WWE has always been of the right frame of mind of only promoting themselves on their own air time.

The ex-WWE guys appearing on TNA is boring, it wouldn't be so bad if they used them to put over their main stars but I find it ridiculous when former WWE 'jobbers' come in and get wins over the established TNA guys. Seriously, what is Shannon Moore doing getting an X-Division title shot at Destination X?