Putting TNA's epic fail in perspective
by David Bixenspan on Aug 5, 2010 2:49 PM EDT
in TNA
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As has been discussed here recently, TNA's last few PPVs have drawn around 8,000 buys each, which is beyond pathetic and even lower than what the early pre-taped ROH PPVs drew.
It gets worse.
In the newest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer analyzed the Boston Globe story about Dana White. In this piece, he mentioned that during UFC's dark ages, they drew 14,000-19,000 buys per event. This was when they had no TV outlet and their shows were only available on DirecTV (which was much less of a powerhouse at the time), Primestar (Which was dying and sold to/folded into DirecTV in 1999), and a handful of small cable systems, making them available to about 25% of the PPV market. TNA has a weekly TV show seen by a million people and 100% PPV clearance.
So...yeah. There you have it.
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Is there a way to make a successful wrestling promotion without using the PPV model?
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
Cagesideseats.com
I think it depends on what you consider successful.
If successful means building a loyal fanbase that allows you to grow in small increments while you keep your day job than I think PWG has succeeded. Pre-HDnet ROH had a decent run with its dvd-based business model.
If successful means being a competitor to Vince & Company – then yeah I would think PPV is a must. With so other promotions being created every year I don’t think there’s going to be an open weekend with a major PPV slot available. With as much talent as they have, I hope TNA gets its act together but I doubt it.
RIP, Coach Wooden.
Thank you, Geoff Petrie.
I've only recently started watching wrestling again since the end of 2009 but,
I still don’t get why TNA is doing this. Dixie Carter is way too nice a promoter. I mean, this whole ECW invasion angle would be much more interesting than a simple “reunion” show that will be over in a few weeks. The whole idea of rekindling a “Monday Night Wars” has resulted in their company going down the drain, and by bringing in WWE, ECW guys only to whip their guys is destroying TNA. If i were Dixie Carter I would ensure that AJ Styles(the only guy who I genuinely enjoy watching in TNA) and Samoa Joe would at the end of it all be the guys who come up on top. I mean RVD wins the title with no buildup is a slap to the face to AJ Styles and a self-burial by TNA management.
Werd.
I mean RVD wins the title with no buildup is a slap to the face to AJ Styles and a self-burial by TNA management.
Hell Christian Cage and other ex-WWE’ers have come in and pushed the OG wrestlers out of their seniority in the locker room based on being in the WWE alone. it’s sad really.
TNA just needs to figure out a way to create new stars and I don’t think it’s happening any time soon. Does Shark Boy count?
RIP, Coach Wooden.
Thank you, Geoff Petrie.
There will come a day, sooner or later, when Spike TV decides that mediocre ratings aren’t enough. When that day comes TNA will be beyond fucked. TNA isn’t even “train wreck” bad any more. It’s just straight up shitty, unwatchable bad.
TNA’s ratings may be kind of crappy overall but for Spike they are probably the second highest rated product after the UFC. I can’t fathom what TNA would have to do to have Spike drop them.
Spike is also putting a lot of cash in the TNA product and there will come a time when Spike executives have to ask themselves if losing X amount of dollars is worth 1.0-1.2 rating every week. Spike execs are pushing hard for Paul Heyman to take over the entire TNA product which Dixie is opposed to doing. The best case scenario for the wrestling biz is for Spike to drop TNA and retain all the wrestlers signed to Spike(Hardy, Rvd, Hogan, Angle etc) and start a brand new promotion with Heyman at the head. Or have Spike buyout Dixie because if you’re gonna lose money you may as well lose money on something you own.
Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...
Sending home Samoa Joe isn't gonna help anything
Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster
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