TNA Closing On Vital New Media Rights Deal
Things are moving quickly as TNA looks to secure a new media rights agreement.
Anthem Sports Group president Carlos Silva recently suggested that he and TNA were looking to air live each week. The promotion currently tapes editions of Impact in advance before they air each Thursday.
Silva noted that this would be possible thanks to a new media rights deal, which would give the promotion the shot in the arm many feel it needs.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Silva has now confirmed that a new deal is very close, and could be finalised within the next two or three months. He admitted that there’s time for things to change, but he and others are working hard to secure the deal.
“We’ve been working on it since the beginning of the year, really since I joined. And it really has accelerated over the last 60 days.
I think we could be in a 60- or 90-day window to get something done. I mean, as you know, the media landscape is changing every single day, and literally week to week things are changing. It’s never done until the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, but we’re working hard at it,”
Silva added that potential broadcast partners had asked about the promotion airing live on a weekly basis.
“We’ve been asked by many partners that they’d like it to be live 52 weeks a year. And so we’re talking through how we would do that. Maybe it wouldn’t go live in January straight away, 52 weeks. But we would certainly lean into that to try and make it happen now.”
It should be noted that Silva later clarified that although the company might broadcast live every week, that doesn’t mean it will be in a different location each time or on the road all year round.
When asked about the relationship between TNA and WWE, Silva dismissed online speculation that it was centered around trying to hurt AEW.
“(That’s) not really how I see it. I just think that we’ve built such a great partnership together that I think they see the value in not only building up stars like a Joe Hendry that came up through TNA, but also letting the Hardys and Nic (Nemeth) and others find another place to continue to celebrate their greatness.
And they’ve now also crossed back over into WWE and NXT as well over these last couple of months. So I think that combination is why we’re all working so well together.”
History-Making Match Confirmed For TNA Slammiversary
It’s been announced that Masha Slamovich will defend the Knockouts Championship against the NXT Women’s Champion at Slammiversary on July 2020. To add further spice to the situation, the NXT Women’s Title will also be up for grabs.
Jacy Jayne is set to defend the NXT title against Jordynne Grace at Evolution, with the winner going on to face Slamovich. Interestingly, Slamovich has held the Knockouts Title since beating Grace before the latter signed with WWE.
H/t to F4wonline