Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated is featuring a lengthy article featuring quotes from TNA President Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett and examining the introduction of Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling promotion to television that culminates tonight.
The most interesting aspect of the article is that Sports Illustrated reported that Impact Wrestling will no longer be airing on Destination America beyond February 2016. Dixie Carter commented on the company losing domestic television going forward.
“The biggest challenge for us is building a brand in the U.S. That’s where we need to grow. We’re contracted to Destination America through the end of the year, and we are in discussions going on for 2016. TNA will continue exist, and on a level that far exceeds what we’re currently doing. I’m looking ahead five years down the road, not a year down the road.”
It would appear that Discovery Communications and Destination America are giving TNA time to seek out another television partner as the current deal comes to a close, similar to when Spike TV provided an extension to TNA back in 2014 when they opted to cancel Impact Wrestling. Impact Wrestling debuted on Destination America this past January.
The article also goes on to address multiple wrestling media reports this week stating that Jeff Jarrett gave up his minority ownership shares of TNA to help get television exposure for his upstart Global Force Wrestling promotion this year. Attempts by Wrestleview.com to get a confirmation on Jarrett giving up his shares were not immediately returned.
TNA is still listing new Impact Wrestling episodes for the coming weeks including 9/23, 9/30 (Countdown to Bound for Glory) and 10/7 with no planned TV tapings on the schedule.
You can check out the full article at the link below.
Sports Illustrated: TNA’s Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett team up in face of uncertain futures