TNA Impact Wrestling announced today that they will be leaving Destination America to join Pop in January of 2016. The first episode will be Tuesday, January 9th at 9PM eastern live. The video was accidentally leaked early.
Pop, part owned by CBS and Lions Gate Entertainment, is available to 75,255,000 pay television households for a 64.7 per cent share, an increase from the 49.2 per cent households that Destination America was available on. Pop is available on basic cable and satellite. Pop was formerly known as TVGN (TV Guide Network) and rebranded in 2014. Pop currently shows Paragon Pro Wrestling on Saturday mornings.
Grab a ringside seat at @IMPACTWRESTLING. #IMPACTonPop premieres LIVE JAN 5. Find Channel—https://t.co/gdFrc5Gbaw https://t.co/a2TexE56C0
— Pop (@PopTV) November 19, 2015
Breaking: TNA Impact Wrestling to Pop TV in January
TNA fans will have to once again search for Impact Wrestling on their channel guide, from Spike TV in 2014 to Destination America in 2015.
The relationship with Destination America started strong, with parent company Discovery looking to support more than just Impact Wrestling, but TNA as a whole company. There were rumours of more than one show for TNA to appear on the station. However, ratings were not as high as Discovery was hoping, and ratings began to drop despite it being by far the highest rated program on the channel in the beginning. Things looked to be going bad to worse when information leaked by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer suggested that TNA was already on the outs and would not be completing their contract with Destination America. It didn’t help that Dixie Carter accidentally leaked an email chastising those at Discovery for how they looked at ratings.
Destination America heated things up even more by bringing in Ring of Honor, with the possibility of ROH replacing TNA on the station. Instead, ratings for ROH stayed low and they will be moving to Comet in December, a network part owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, owner of ROH. Destination America will be going from two wrestling programs on their station on Wednesday’s to none.
The timing couldn’t come at a better time, as the company has been in complete disarray with departures in talent, so much so that Bound For Glory felt like it could be the last TNA PPV. There is currently no TNA World Heavyweight champion, though the Pop video (early leaked) featured Ethan Carter III hoisting the title high.
Right now there are a lot of rumours to what this deal means, with some even speculating that CBS could be purchasing a piece of TNA Wrestling. So far this is unsubstantiated but we will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Press Release:
POP AND IMPACT WRESTLING PARTNER TO BRING FANS RINGSIDE FOR WEEKLY EVENT BROADCAST PREMIERING ON TUESDAY, JAN. 5, 2016
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Nov. 19, 2015 – Get ready for #ImpactOnPop. Pop, a network that celebrates the excitement of being a fan, will soon become the exclusive U.S. television home of IMPACT WRESTLING, the hard-hitting, high-flying global sports sensation enjoyed by millions of fans around the world.
Pop will premiere IMPACT WRESTLING with a live two-hour, action-packed broadcast on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, and the show will continue to air every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM, ET/PT. The show features some of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, including Jeff and Matt Hardy, EC3, Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley, The Wolves, Eric Young, Tigre Uno and Gail Kim.
“Wrestling has been a fan-fueled staple since the ‘50s, and continues to be some of the most-watched appointment television today. The die-hard fandom and extraordinary passion surrounding IMPACT WRESTLING captures the spirit of Pop as a network that celebrates fan-driven entertainment and excitement,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Pop. “We’re committed to this new partnership and psyched to bring the show’s loyal fans a dedicated night to watch their favorite show on Pop every week.”
IMPACT WRESTLING is a strong global brand seen on networks in more than 120 countries around the world and broadcast in 17 languages. Its fans are some of the most devoted and socially active in sports, with more than 15 million aggregated social media followers and nearly 700 million video views on YouTube, making it the seventh-most-viewed sports channel, ahead of MLB®, NHL®, MLS® and FIFATV®.
“Pop’s enthusiasm for our partnership and the network’s fan focus is a perfect fit for our company,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Wresting has always been at the forefront of pop culture with the most passionate, loyal fan base. We’re thrilled to be in business with Pop and to bring IMPACT WRESTLING to more than 80 million homes.”
To find IMPACT WRESTLING on Pop, go to http://poptv.com.
Pop on the Web: poptv.com
Pop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PopTelevision
Pop Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopTV
Pop Instagram: @poptvABOUT TNA
TNA Entertainment, LLC, is a privately held sports entertainment company represented by United Talent Agency and based in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in television properties, events, products, merchandise and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The roster features such greats as Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, EC3, Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley, Bobby Roode, Mr. Anderson, Drew Galloway, the high-flying X-Division and the lovely and lethal Knockouts, through its highly successful flagship IMPACT WRESTLING weekly broadcast, which will begin airing in 2016 on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Pop network. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in more than 120 countries. For more information, visit www.IMPACTWRESTLING.com or follow @IMPACTWRESTLING and @TNADixie on twitter.ABOUT POP
Fans don’t sit at the outskirts of pop culture making snarky comments. They live right smack in the middle of it, sharing, creating, and connecting their passions with others. At Pop, fans finally have a destination that celebrates the fun of being a fan. Fans aren’t even fans anymore — they’re gladiators, tributes, human beings and blockheads. Seen in more than 80 million homes, Pop gives fans a dedicated channel that loves being a fan as much as they do. A channel that respects talent over celebrity. A channel filled with optimism, passion, humor, and excitement. A channel that understands the fun doesn’t stop when the credits roll… it’s really just the beginning.Pop is a joint venture of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF). The partnership combines CBS’s programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate’s resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. Pop’s ownership structure is comprised of the company with the #1 broadcast network and many of the top first-run syndication series (“Entertainment Tonight,” “The Insider”) and the studio that produces and distributes the blockbuster “Hunger Games,” “Twilight” and “Divergent” franchises and produces such award-winning TV series as “Mad Men” and “Orange is the New Black.”
