Backstage News On When The TNA/SpikeTV Negotiations Fell Apart & What They Turned Down

Partial Source: Pwinsider.com

It is said that the negotiations between Spike TV and TNA ended around two or three weeks ago. The two sides were in talks for TNA to sign a "lesser deal" that would see TNA get paid a smaller rights fee.

Also read: ?Backstage News & Updates For TNA Wrestling Once They Debut On Their New Network, Matthews

It's also said that despite the fact that TNA failed to hit the two million viewer mark for iMPACT! Wrestling that was agreed upon during their original contract signed back in 2010, Spike TV still had interest in maintaining the relationship.

Backstage Update - TNA's Negotiations With SpikeTV

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

While there isn't a new contract set up between TNA and Spike TV yet, it's believed that there will be one before their current deal expires in October. Renewal negotiations usually start happening two to three months before the existing TV deal expires. Since it's June, it will likely start within the next couple of months. While iMPACT! Wrestling ratings haven't been great, it's still averaging over a million viewers. Not only is this above the network's average, but only a few Spike TV shows get higher numbers so TNA is one of the highest rated programs on the entire network.

Also read: ?Report - Major Issues Between Rey Mysterio & WWE

Spike still wants to have one company for MMA, wrestling and kickboxing. There's no other wrestling company right now that can guarantee over a million viewers a week since WWE renewed their deal with USA. Global Force Wrestling isn't an option because Jeff Jarrett's exit agreement stated he would not approach Spike TV with the promotion.

The problem is the financial stability of TNA. The Carter family believes TNA is self-sustaining and isn't investing much more into the company. The biggest source of revenue for TNA is Spike. If Spike believed that TNA was in financial trouble, they would be less likely to sign a new multi-year deal.

NXT Talent Debuts New Look + WWE's TV Negotiations

-- WWE NXT talent Solomon Crowe debuted a new look during a match with CJ Parker at Saturday night's NXT live event in Starke, Florida. Crowe wound up losing to Parker.

-- As noted earlier here on the website, WWE's discussions for their television rights package has as of late included AMC Networks, Viacom, Time Warner and 21st Century Fox. The talks with Viacom, if they pan out, would be for Spike TV which would leave TNA without a TV contract. Viacom has reportedly not yet renewed their deal with TNA, which expires around the time that WWE's contract with NBC/Universal is done.

Time Warner's talks would likely be for TBS and/or TNT, while the 21st Century Fox discussions would put them on FOX Sports 1 in an attempt to grow that channel. It would see WWE and UFC have all their cable content on the same channel.

The new deal should be announced at the end of April or early May.

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

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