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WWE RUNNING OUT OF NETWORKS...WHAT DOES THE WWE SITUATION MEAN FOR TNA?
By: Joey Styles
3/12/2005 8:22:12 AM
Broadcasting and Cable reports that FX, TNT, and TBS all passed on entering negotiations with WWE. With Spike TV going public about walking away from WWE negotiations because they would not pay more than $28 million annually, WWE has very little negotiating leverage with USA. WWE wants the deal with USA because Vivendi Universal owns USA Network, NBC, Universal Studios, Universal Theme Parks, etc.
Another interesting point is that the lack of interest in WWE by FX, TNT and TBS could mean that no other pro wrestling company (TNA) would be able to reach a deal with those networks either.
However, a cable TV source tells me that is not neccessarily the case. Some of those network executives may simply dislike Vince McMahon and WWE from past dealings with them.
Regarding Spike's announcement that it was pulling out of negotiations for the WWE contract, here is what we know:
*There is a lot to this story, but both sides are pretty much on a gag order regarding the details, although I'm pretty sure they'll come out at some point
*WWE was blindsided by this announcement, which badly hurts whatever negotiating leverage they may have had with USA Network. However, we'd been given the impression for months that if they had their way, they would go to USA. WWE was attempting to get a rate increase of $28 million per year to $40 million, even though the cable package as a whole is way down from early 2000 when the $28 million deal was negotiated
*As mentioned in our previous note, TNT, TBS and FX all turned down WWE overtures to open negotiations. This doesn't bode well for another wrestling group, because nobody is going to come in with more of an established name and legacy in this business than WWE, and the stations you'd think would have interest wouldn't even open negotiations.
*As of this morning, there had been no talks whatsoever between anyone from TNA and Spike TV
*UFC has not even decided if it wanted to do a second season of Ultimate Fighter even if Spike did (and it's expected based on info we've seen that Spike in fact, did want to continue for a second season). When the first season filming ended, Dana White had told people he never wanted to go through it again, but he may have changed his opinion due to the strong response
*With the purchase of "CSI: New York," for September, Spike is of the impression adding that show 5 nights per week would do more for the network than one strong night of Raw and two weak prime time shows (Heat &
By: Joey Styles
3/12/2005 8:22:12 AM
Broadcasting and Cable reports that FX, TNT, and TBS all passed on entering negotiations with WWE. With Spike TV going public about walking away from WWE negotiations because they would not pay more than $28 million annually, WWE has very little negotiating leverage with USA. WWE wants the deal with USA because Vivendi Universal owns USA Network, NBC, Universal Studios, Universal Theme Parks, etc.
Another interesting point is that the lack of interest in WWE by FX, TNT and TBS could mean that no other pro wrestling company (TNA) would be able to reach a deal with those networks either.
However, a cable TV source tells me that is not neccessarily the case. Some of those network executives may simply dislike Vince McMahon and WWE from past dealings with them.
Regarding Spike's announcement that it was pulling out of negotiations for the WWE contract, here is what we know:
*There is a lot to this story, but both sides are pretty much on a gag order regarding the details, although I'm pretty sure they'll come out at some point
*WWE was blindsided by this announcement, which badly hurts whatever negotiating leverage they may have had with USA Network. However, we'd been given the impression for months that if they had their way, they would go to USA. WWE was attempting to get a rate increase of $28 million per year to $40 million, even though the cable package as a whole is way down from early 2000 when the $28 million deal was negotiated
*As mentioned in our previous note, TNT, TBS and FX all turned down WWE overtures to open negotiations. This doesn't bode well for another wrestling group, because nobody is going to come in with more of an established name and legacy in this business than WWE, and the stations you'd think would have interest wouldn't even open negotiations.
*As of this morning, there had been no talks whatsoever between anyone from TNA and Spike TV
*UFC has not even decided if it wanted to do a second season of Ultimate Fighter even if Spike did (and it's expected based on info we've seen that Spike in fact, did want to continue for a second season). When the first season filming ended, Dana White had told people he never wanted to go through it again, but he may have changed his opinion due to the strong response
*With the purchase of "CSI: New York," for September, Spike is of the impression adding that show 5 nights per week would do more for the network than one strong night of Raw and two weak prime time shows (Heat &
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