Spike TV Drops TNA Wrestling Series

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Spike TV will not renew its long-running carriage deal with TNA Wrestling, sources close to the companies said, confirming a TMZ report.

TNA, which has aired its Impact Wrestling series exclusively on Spike for the past nine years, is actively talking to other as yet defined distributors about carrying the series, according to sources. Impact Wrestling, a competitor to the various WWE wrestling shows on several networks, has pinned down strong ratings for Spike, averaging more than 1.2 million viewers in the past month alone. TNA officials did not comment on the situation.

Spike, which has carried TNA’s weekly series Impact Wrestling series since 2005, will go in a different direction on Thursday nights. Spike officials would not comment on the matter.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.