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TNA Wrestling on Challenge TV (Part 2)


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Old 28-05-2015, 14:24
JasonWatkins
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Because, as has been mentioned several times in this thread, the new wrestling show is considerably cheaper then TNA and thus requires much less advertising revenue to be a profitable venture for Destination America. The real issue here isn't that they've signed a deal with RoH but whether or not they intend to continue with TNA.
The cost isn't the issue, it's the fact that DA's advertisers are supposed to have refused to have their adverts screened during TNA's programming and this is part of the reason why DA have allegedly cancelled them.

So if that's the case, why sign another wrestling show and risk more problems with the same advertisers if they don't want to advertise on wrestling shows ?

Anyway, if it's true that Dixie hasn't clarified the situation with anyone then she's going to find a whole slew of people knocking on her door asking for their releases and she'll only have herself to blame. It's rather disgraceful that she's keeping people in the dark over this.
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Old 28-05-2015, 15:11
AlexiR
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The cost isn't the issue, it's the fact that DA's advertisers are supposed to have refused to have their adverts screened during TNA's programming and this is part of the reason why DA have allegedly cancelled them.

So if that's the case, why sign another wrestling show and risk more problems with the same advertisers if they don't want to advertise on wrestling shows ?
Cost is absolutely the issue.

Firstly it should be noted that Destination America is selling ad time during Impact. Some (and its important to note that some does not translate to all) advertisers have requested not to have time during Impact and in fact this may prove to be a somewhat misleading statement given the block buying we're talking about and how that works. I will however avoid that rabbit hole for the time being and instead focus on a couple of key points.

1 – Advertisers requesting not to have time during Impact lowers the Impact revenue generation
2 – Advertisers requesting not to have time during Impact also raises the time and investment Destination America have to put in to sell time to new advertisers
3 – Destination America can't sell time during Impact at the premium they might otherwise like to because advertisers won't pay it.

These three things combine to make it more difficult for Destination America to turn a profit on the TNA product. This, presumably, played a key role in the decision to rather dramatically scale back on the level of TNA content they were airing. It lowers the cost a little, allows them to focus purely on selling time during the two hour Impact block and additionally allows them to use other content that advertisers are happier being associated with to fulfil other obligations. Even with all this if Destination America is struggling or simply isn't making a profit on the TNA deal its easy to understand why they'd want out. However at the same time Impact is their highest rated show and is helping to grow the network and inflate the network average so its easy to understand why despite the problems they might be having with Impact and TNA they wouldn't want out of the wrestling game entirely. The solution then is to find a way to produce the same or similar content at a lower price point that can then turn a profit.

Effectively what Destination America would be hoping for in this scenario is that RoH is able to produce similar (if not better) ratings than TNA but do it at a much lower price point. If they're able to do that then they can continue to grow the network and inflate the average while also having a much easier time turning a profit on the RoH product because it costs them a lot less.

Lets use some very basic and totally made up numbers to illustrate this point.

TNA Impact
Costs $500k per hour
Ad revenue $300k per hour
Total loss $200k per hour

RoH
Costs $100k per hour
Ad revenue $300k per hour
Total gain $200k per hour

In this hypothetical at a lower price point but similar audience level Destination America can go from losing $200k per hour on wrestling to making $200k per hour.

(This of course all assumes that the Destination America isn't entirely happy with TNA reports are true and they may not be)

What also isn't being discussed here is the specific reason why advertisers might not be keen on TNA.

The generic they don't like wrestling potentially holds up for many but its also just as possible that some have very specific issues with TNA either as a brand (the TNA name is horribly off putting) or as content. It leans much more toward the extreme violence, blood and language of the Attitude Era than WWE PG rated content does and that's potentially something that can greatly concern advertisers who aren't keen on the idea of wrestling in the first place. Its entirely possible that replacing TNA with a more advertiser friendly brand and product solves some of the advertiser relation problems they're having. Although again some does not translate to all.
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Old 28-05-2015, 15:17
JackFoley
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Cost is absolutely the issue.

Firstly it should be noted that Destination America is selling ad time during Impact. Some (and its important to note that some does not translate to all) advertisers have requested not to have time during Impact and in fact this may prove to be a somewhat misleading statement given the block buying we're talking about and how that works. I will however avoid that rabbit hole for the time being and instead focus on a couple of key points.

1 – Advertisers requesting not to have time during Impact lowers the Impact revenue generation
2 – Advertisers requesting not to have time during Impact also raises the time and investment Destination America have to put in to sell time to new advertisers
3 – Destination America can't sell time during Impact at the premium they might otherwise like to because advertisers won't pay it.

These three things combine to make it more difficult for Destination America to turn a profit on the TNA product. This, presumably, played a key role in the decision to rather dramatically scale back on the level of TNA content they were airing. It lowers the cost a little, allows them to focus purely on selling time during the two hour Impact block and additionally allows them to use other content that advertisers are happier being associated with to fulfil other obligations. Even with all this if Destination America is struggling or simply isn't making a profit on the TNA deal its easy to understand why they'd want out. However at the same time Impact is their highest rated show and is helping to grow the network and inflate the network average so its easy to understand why despite the problems they might be having with Impact and TNA they wouldn't want out of the wrestling game entirely. The solution then is to find a way to produce the same or similar content at a lower price point that can then turn a profit.

Effectively what Destination America would be hoping for in this scenario is that RoH is able to produce similar (if not better) ratings than TNA but do it at a much lower price point. If they're able to do that then they can continue to grow the network and inflate the average while also having a much easier time turning a profit on the RoH product because it costs them a lot less.

Lets use some very basic and totally made up numbers to illustrate this point.

TNA Impact
Costs $500k per hour
Ad revenue $300k per hour
Total loss $200k per hour

RoH
Costs $100k per hour
Ad revenue $300k per hour
Total gain $200k per hour

In this hypothetical at a lower price point but similar audience level Destination America can go from losing $200k per hour on wrestling to making $200k per hour.

(This of course all assumes that the Destination America isn't entirely happy with TNA reports are true and they may not be)

What also isn't being discussed here is the specific reason why advertisers might not be keen on TNA.

The generic they don't like wrestling potentially holds up for many but its also just as possible that some have very specific issues with TNA either as a brand (the TNA name is horribly off putting) or as content. It leans much more toward the extreme violence, blood and language of the Attitude Era than WWE PG rated content does and that's potentially something that can greatly concern advertisers who aren't keen on the idea of wrestling in the first place. Its entirely possible that replacing TNA with a more advertiser friendly brand and product solves some of the advertiser relation problems they're having. Although again some does not translate to all.
Plus don't forget that DA pays the bills for TNA's production while with ROH they just have to pay Sinclair the syndication fee, so even if they have issues with ads it's a much lower loss than TNA.
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Old 28-05-2015, 15:35
dave_windows
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What 2 bobbies? Those twins called Blossoms who didnt appreciate their TNA contracts.
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Old 28-05-2015, 18:03
ags_rule
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I think ROH signing is great news for wrestling fans in general. Competition between two brands on the same Network will ensure they both up their game and hopefully bring more attention to pro-wrestling.
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Old 28-05-2015, 18:28
dave_windows
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I think ROH signing is great news for wrestling fans in general. Competition between two brands on the same Network will ensure they both up their game and hopefully bring more attention to pro-wrestling.
Challenge should air both companies.
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Old 28-05-2015, 23:19
JackFoley
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I think ROH signing is great news for wrestling fans in general. Competition between two brands on the same Network will ensure they both up their game and hopefully bring more attention to pro-wrestling.
On a network where their most watched program does 1/10th of what Raw does every monday night?
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Old 29-05-2015, 00:59
JCR
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May 7th 2014- TNA announce Bram has signed a multi year contract https://twitter.com/johngaburick/sta...75960034344961
March 20th 2015- TNA announce Bram has signed a contract https://twitter.com/JohnGaburick/sta...70817129811968
May 28th 2015- TNA proud to announce Bram has re signed with TNA https://twitter.com/JohnGaburick/sta...35002146373632

Am reminded of a Mark Kermode line about the games at the Colosseum becoming absurd when they knew the end of the Roman Empire was near.
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Old 29-05-2015, 01:03
AlexiR
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That's hilarious. WCW levels of hilarious.
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Old 29-05-2015, 02:52
FMKK
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Is it at all possible that Bram has actually managed to convince Dixie that his contract was running out in three separate occasions and is thus tricking her into paying him three wages? I would believe it.
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Old 29-05-2015, 04:54
JCR
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Is it at all possible that Bram has actually managed to convince Dixie that his contract was running out in three separate occasions and is thus tricking her into paying him three wages? I would believe it.
From mecca

Originally Posted by Bob Ryder
brydertna VicVenomBytes • 7 minutes ago

Because we tore up the existing agreement and rewarded him with a new agreement that was in recognition of the job he has done for us and the potential to become a top star for us in the future.
Bram has such potential that WWE don't want him in spite of him presumably having his father in law Ric Flair able to put in a good word with Trips.
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Old 29-05-2015, 08:03
dave_windows
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Who is Bram?
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Old 29-05-2015, 23:20
JCR
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English nxt reject now in TNA. Probably known best for being married to Charlotte (Ashley Fliehr).
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Old 29-05-2015, 23:53
JCR
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Holy shit. Konnan is suing TNA and we are in discovery for that. Among the stuff that come out so far-

An email from Russo in 2006 begging Dixie to fire Jim Cornette and have a Tina Fey type (ie Dixie) as the onscreen authority figure. http://i.imgur.com/NN3CVMI.png

Dixie not knowing tna's website address and emailing non existent addresses @ tna.com

Ron Killings/R Truth complaining he had to borrow $8000 for medical bills TNA wouldn't pay. Also that someone in the TNA office repeatedly called him the N word to his face. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGL8HrgW0AAUe8_.png

Says Konnan- "He [Ron Killings] was with me at the door when they said no minorities allowed or no brownies allowed. And Jeff told him the day I didn't show up for work, I'll just go to the park and find another drunken Puerto Rican. And he also did cocaine with Jeff. And he brought cocaine for Jeff. And, you know, and he called Ronnie also derogatory names."

Source- http://ia601402.us.archive.org/24/it...95.docket.html

They are having quite the week.
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Old 30-05-2015, 00:55
FMKK
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Lol, this IS at WCW levels of hilarious now. Having read the Russo email, I actually think he's right about the presentation of the show and favouring the image of Angle/Joe/LAX etc. but if the ultimate conclusion to that was Dixie as an on-screen character, then that has to go down as another major black mark against him. Poor bastard can't catch a break.
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Old 30-05-2015, 08:10
dave_windows
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Please dont ever put TNA & WCW in the same sentence. While it might be similar as a alternative seeing as one closed its doors in 2001 and another debuted in 2002 - 2003 time TNA will never beat WWE in the wrestling department.
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Old 30-05-2015, 10:54
FMKK
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TNA is essentially an extension of WCW anyway. WCW from beyond the grave.
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Old 30-05-2015, 14:01
hazydayz
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I'd love to know who called Truth the N word to his face.

I kind of agree with the Russo email and the other stuff in it about his friend and them making superstar decals for merchandise, i know he gets a lot of hate online but I don't think a lot of fans really believe that his intentions were good and he was just trying to help. And i'm sure more will come out but look at WWE writers now, many of them have their own blogs and they tell stories. The one a few years ago about how they tried to help the 2006 DX reunion and called McMahon out on a lot of stuff was a highlight. Equally as important as the story a few years before that where Vince would often impersonate Jim Ross in creative meetings and everyone would laugh round the table.

Wrestling is filled with nasty people. This is why I don't take the wrestling business seriously. This is why I don't cry when they die. Fans are always there to give their opinions and they're always right, they always know better than Vince McMahon or Dixie Carter, they know how it should be done and the truth is the fans don't have a clue what goes on backstage, the dirtsheets don't have a clue what goes on and the truth is it's nothing like they want you to believe. It is a business filled with racists and abusers, the females don't get the same money or opportunities, it is filled with drugs, it is one rule for some, a different set of rules for the rest, it is a modern day carnival, it's completely backward. But it is real life.
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Old 30-05-2015, 18:19
dave_windows
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TNA is essentially an extension of WCW anyway. WCW from beyond the grave.
Its not really. While Jarrett was a long reigning NWA champion thats where the similarities end. It will never be on par with Ted Turners company and TNA has had pretty poor characterisation.
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Old 31-05-2015, 00:17
FMKK
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Its not really. While Jarrett was a long reigning NWA champion thats where the similarities end. It will never be on par with Ted Turners company and TNA has had pretty poor characterisation.
It really isn't. Lots of the same people behind the scenes, Russo, Hogan and Eric, obsession with recreating the NWO, obsession with what Vince was doing/catching him, even the aesthetic is very WCW when it was on its last legs.
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Old 31-05-2015, 08:10
dave_windows
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It really isn't. Lots of the same people behind the scenes, Russo, Hogan and Eric, obsession with recreating the NWO, obsession with what Vince was doing/catching him, even the aesthetic is very WCW when it was on its last legs.
I dont recall Hogan being in TNA when Jarrett was champ. I know he might have been there the odd night when they had that Savag/Hogan altercation but he must have left shortly after cos he was on WWE tv.
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Old 31-05-2015, 13:43
ags_rule
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Holy shit. Konnan is suing TNA and we are in discovery for that. Among the stuff that come out so far-

An email from Russo in 2006 begging Dixie to fire Jim Cornette and have a Tina Fey type (ie Dixie) as the onscreen authority figure. http://i.imgur.com/NN3CVMI.png

Dixie not knowing tna's website address and emailing non existent addresses @ tna.com

Ron Killings/R Truth complaining he had to borrow $8000 for medical bills TNA wouldn't pay. Also that someone in the TNA office repeatedly called him the N word to his face. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGL8HrgW0AAUe8_.png

Says Konnan- "He [Ron Killings] was with me at the door when they said no minorities allowed or no brownies allowed. And Jeff told him the day I didn't show up for work, I'll just go to the park and find another drunken Puerto Rican. And he also did cocaine with Jeff. And he brought cocaine for Jeff. And, you know, and he called Ronnie also derogatory names."

Source- http://ia601402.us.archive.org/24/it...95.docket.html

They are having quite the week.
I do enjoy how when a disgruntled ex-WWE employee sues them it's all poo-pooed as a case of sour grapes and bullshit, yet when a an ex-TNA employee does it, well, it MUST be true!
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Old 31-05-2015, 13:52
Hollie_Louise
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Well who has said its true?
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Old 31-05-2015, 14:15
FMKK
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I do enjoy how when a disgruntled ex-WWE employee sues them it's all poo-pooed as a case of sour grapes and bullshit, yet when a an ex-TNA employee does it, well, it MUST be true!
They're suing for money that they claim that they're owed. No one can really judge that one way or the other because we don't know the inside financials. However, for Viscera's wife to sue WWE for concussions when he was massively overweight and died of a heart attack is just so obviously spurious. It's not like these are identical cases.
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Old 31-05-2015, 21:44
AlexiR
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Please dont ever put TNA & WCW in the same sentence. While it might be similar as a alternative seeing as one closed its doors in 2001 and another debuted in 2002 - 2003 time TNA will never beat WWE in the wrestling department.
I think you're missing the point of the TNA/WCW comparisons.

I do enjoy how when a disgruntled ex-WWE employee sues them it's all poo-pooed as a case of sour grapes and bullshit, yet when a an ex-TNA employee does it, well, it MUST be true!
There's a bit of apples and oranges going on here. Plus no one has actually commented on the merits of Konan's lawsuit (I wasn't even aware he had one until it came up here) but rather the emails etc. that have come to light as a result of the lawsuit. If WWE lawsuits were turning up emails like those then people would be commenting on them.
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