TNA Impact debuts on Wednesday night to lower ratings

While TNA and Spike TV are continuing negotiations for a new television deal -- or at least that's the official position from both sides -- it was decided Impact, the company's flagship program, would air on Wednesday nights for the remainder of 2014.

The first episode, dubbed Hardcore Justice after the old pay-per-view (PPV), aired last night. The show, featuring Bobby Roode and Eric Young winning a six-sides of steel match for number one contender status to the heavyweight championship, saw its viewership decline but not too terribly.

In its first week on a new night, Impact drew 852,000 viewers.

Here's how that compares to the last month of shows on Thursday night:

July 24: 1.42 million
July 31: 1.38 million
Aug. 7: 1.41 million
Aug. 14: 1.12 million

It's worth nothing that a movie that ran in the same time slot last Wednesday drew 893,000 viewers. There will be growing pains, of course, as viewers get used to the change in nights. In the long run, if there is one, this could be just what the executives ordered.

For now, they're behind it.

For complete results and the live blog from Impact click here.