TNA News: Major TV Changes, New Show, Taping Schedule Change and More
Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.05.2008
Tons of Tuesday TNA news!
- TNA is looking to move their TV tapings to Thursday and Friday nights. With the possible change they have told talent not to take Friday bookings after March, which is when the planned change would likely occur. If they change the taping schedule in late March as expected, the Friday Night taping would go against the ROH show that will be happening WrestleMania weekend.
- This would be a big deal for Independent's that book TNA talent, because they wouldn't have them available on that busy night for shows. It will also cost them more money to bring them in for Saturday shows. Many promoters save on air fare by piggybacking, this is the practice of booking two nights in the same area so the air fare can be pro-rated over two shows, or even two different promoters splitting the cost to bring one guy in for the weekend. They would now have to pay for one round trip ticket out of Orlando, with a return to the wrestler's home.
- Talents who work a lot of Friday shows could end up losing money. The reason being is that they will be working the same amount for TNA, but be losing that Friday booking. But with TNA doing more house shows, it may not be a factor.
- TNA is planning major upgrades to its television in the coming months, with talk of going live every other week. With the new schedule, Thursday would be live, and Friday would be the taping for the following week's show. With this change, the company would also switch to taping in HD. For many there is a level of prestige that goes along with going live. They would still save on travel with the back to back taping dates and keep the schedule lighter than WWE's, which if ratings increase could make them a more attractive alternative for wrestlers burnt out on the WWE schedule.
- The move would increase production cost, and also decrease the margin of error when they are live. SPIKE TV's support is a big part of this possible change, and they would likely kick in some of the cost. TNA is currently scoring above the network's primetime average, and if the Ultimate Fighter's ratings continue to fall as they have been, and if TNA's ratings can maintain the small growth they have attained, they would become the highest rated weekly original show on the network.
- There is also talk of SPIKE adding another hour of TNA programming, designed to highlight the TNA Knockouts Division. This is because the quarter hour of the show featuring the women has been getting the highest ratings. If this happens, TNA would have to expand the Knockouts Roster.
Posted By: siva (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I can't wait, though I'd mix it up with the Knockout show. It should be a b show with both males & females
Posted By: Mongolian Joe (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Oh great, they're going to have a WCW Thunder: Women's Edition.
What next? Is TNA going to sign Glacier?
Posted By: mgxavier (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:07 AM
Well considering the Womens division is actually entertaining both storyline wise and wrestling wise I am excited. Id probably watch it more than the Thurs show
Posted By: AG Awesome (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:25 AM
There's a big difference between people watching a segment of something and watching a full show of just that. Nothing leads me to think this would be a good idea for a weekly show.
Posted By: Guest#5874 (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:28 AM
You guys know what Highlight means? It's not another show showing just the knockouts.
Posted By: EricG (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:34 AM
STILL.. the way the shows are booked... AWEFUL... everyone is a comedy act but JOE and Tomko
Posted By: JWS (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:59 AM
If they hired Mike Epps for a few months, changed Awesome Kong to "Baby D", and brought Zeus in as "Debo", then had him stalk Christian.. thats the only way I'd watch that program.
Posted By: Guest#0713 (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 03:00 AM
I think this would be a bad idea (the Knockouts show) as TNA is still not doing a lot of things correctly. Don't get me wrong, I watch TNA every week, have been to a house show, and generally like the product, but an all women's hour wouldn't do well. GlOW wasn't succesful and I don't think this would be either. If they took the women completely off iMPACT it might work, but I think they should use the resources to make iMPACT better. Book it better, make the staging better, etc. But it's just my opinion.
Posted By: JT (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 04:08 AM
The Knockout show is only the TNA knockouts, that is said to be matches, photo sessions, interviews. And there is no way im sitting home on a Saturday night to see that. If you do, then you are a VERY lonely man...
Posted By: Spike (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 05:09 AM
Does Spike TV have an HD channel yet?
Posted By: Champ (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 06:21 AM
I get that the Knockout segments are the highest rating, but that doesnt mean that people are gonna watch a show devoted to them. The rating just means that people can stand the Knockout segments on Impact more then everything else.
Posted By: Spike (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Shimmer-A?
Posted By: T.G. Corke (Registered) on February 05, 2008 at 07:06 AM
its about time. I miss my glow wrestling damn i just showed my age i like hollywood and vine. ok i just went over everyones head lol its great i think
Posted By: tommyevil (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Well, let's not forget that SmackDown! was initially designed to be an exclusive Divas show, and ended up being... well, you know... SmackDown.
Hope TNA gets all of this.
Posted By: Guy (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 09:36 AM
More TNA on TV? Hey anyone remember when there was more WCW on TV? Things didn't last long after did they! And as for TNA in HD, the term you can't polish a turd fits so well here.
Posted By: Col (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I'm convinced that the only reason ratings are slightly up is because people are tuning in to see the train wreck ie just how bad the booking is (minus the women's division). Hooray Russo, he's done what everyone else including God vs Moses on a 'commandments on a pole' match couldn't do.
In all seriousness, I don't get how ratings are up. The show is terrible. The talent is great, but the show is terrible. Tomko is being booked effectively...FOR NOW. Give them an inch, they'll take a mile, and within months they'll have Tomko jobbing out to Stone Cold Shark Boy. They've jobbed out every other reputable respected dominant wrestler that they've had thus far, why not continue the trend? Last I checked, Russo was still an employee...
Posted By: Nick (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 10:30 AM
If it helps to provide an alternative to the WWE, then I am all for it. We already have Cheerleader Melissa in TNA as Kong's Manager. Now if TNA could only get MsChif or LuFisto.
Posted By: Wojcik (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I wonder how some of the guys in the back feels about the Knockout show??. The Womans division has been around for a couple of months and just like that they get their own show. When some guys in the back struggle like hell to even be on Impact.
Posted By: Spike (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I don't see anything wrong with a Knockouts show. If anything it gives TNA the chance to hook up deals with various Joshi promotions in Japan, which in turn leads to some awesome female matches finally being aired in North America. And before you say that no one cares about Women's wrestling, realize that it has never really been given a real chance in America. Just because Vince has his own vision of it, doesn't mean that it's right...
Posted By: Master of the Obvious (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 12:02 PM
What it proves above anything is that D'Amore is booking a great show because it's so popular and he alone is responsible for the knockouts booking. Now if it were me and not Jeff "Russo is so far up my ass he can see what I ate for dinner last week" Jarrett, I'd see that and have D'Amore book the whole show. Of course this is far too logical and common sense for TNA to even consider.
Posted By: Col (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I would watch a KNockouts show.The Knockouts are more entertaining than anything on WWE programing
Posted By: Paul (Guest) on February 05, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I'm not very bright I think the only good product is WWE and bash TNA for using gimmick ideas which obviously are drawing people in. Tomko will be a failure with Russo booking him you know unlike Austin who Russo helped book into a star I KNOW Vince was the real reason for any success. TNA sucks. I'm calling Vince tomorrow to see if I can join the kiss my ass club.
Posted By: Nick (Guest) on February 06, 2008 at 03:25 PM
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