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TNA News: Impact changing TV format starting Thursday, TNA president feels "wrestling format has become stale"

May 30, 2012 - 12:55:50 PM
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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

ImpactWrestling_140_68.jpg
TNA is changing the format of their Impact Wrestling show starting with Thursday's live show, the promotion announced Wednesday. TNA president Dixie Carter said in a press release the decision is based on feeling the "wrestling format itself has become stale."

TNA is marketing the change as "the most significant evolution in this genre in more than 15 years." TNA cited the addition of backstage meetings in real-time without scripts and "pulling back the curtain" to reveal what happens behind-the-scenes.

Carter defended the change in the TV product in the press release: "What happens backstage, in the office and on the road is so entertaining that we decided it was time to pull the curtain way back and give viewers a peek at that world as well. Over the next few weeks and months, viewers will continue to see our show evolve as we expose more real aspects of our business that have always been sacred."

TNA also stressed using the live format to emphasize social media. Similar to WWE Raw's move to a Viewer's Choice theme for Raw starting this summer, TNA says Impact will be the "most socially interactive television program in the history of professional wrestling." TNA added, "Viewers will have a variety of unique opportunities to participate and influence certain elements of the program through various social media platforms."

***

Caldwell's Analysis: In other words, in the middle of a downturn for TV ratings this year, TNA is admitting Creative failure unable to produce a compelling, weekly two-hour wrestling show focusing on the stories, matches, and feuds involving pro wrestlers within the context of a wrestling environment to sell tickets and PPVs. It's another mind-boggling decision made by the top two North American wrestling promotions. I also wonder if this will eventually lead to TNA completely removing a wrestling ring and presenting a show about wrestlers who don't actually wrestle.


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