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TNA TV Deal & What It Means To The Wrestling Landscape

  • Writer: Carlos Astorga
    Carlos Astorga
  • Aug 19
  • 3 min read
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TNA’s TV Deal: Positive Momentum and Real Possibilities

Since welcoming Carlos Silva as TNA’s president in early 2025, the promotion has steadily gained steam in both visibility and strategic positioning. Under Silva’s leadership, TNA has expanded into major U.S. cities such as New York and Los Angeles, significantly bolstering event attendance and social media engagement—surpassing over 5 million YouTube subscribers and 1 million Instagram followers. This growing profile sets the stage perfectly for a highly valued media rights agreement.


What’s Actually Happening

  • $10 Million Annual Goal for Live Weekly TVSilva has publicly revealed that TNA is targeting a media rights deal worth around $10 million per year, one that would enable live broadcasts 52 weeks a year—a bold vision that signals strong ambition.

  • Positive Momentum and October TimelineTNA’s media rights negotiations are showing what Silva describes as “positive momentum.” The company is aiming to finalize a deal by October, ideally ahead of its marquee event Bound for Glory.

  • Potential Broadcast Partners in the MixNetworks such as The CW (home of NXT) and A&E (which airs WWE-produced content) are being considered as possible broadcast partners for TNA’s new TV deal. Additionally, TNA has enlisted the help of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to negotiate the agreement.


What’s Rumored (Clearly Marked)

  • Wednesday Night Slot vs. AEW DynamiteIt’s widely speculated that TNA is open to shifting its flagship Impact show from Thursday to Wednesdays, potentially going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite in a prime-time showdown. While sources suggest this could be part of the new deal, it's unverified and should be treated as a rumor for now.

  • WWE’s Strategic InvolvementSome reports suggest that WWE—or a WWE-friendly buyer—could help position TNA as a No. 2 promotion to challenge AEW, potentially facilitating a favorable TV deal. These accounts revolve around internal strategy rather than confirmed plans.


Why This Is a Big Deal for TNA—and Wrestling

  1. Enhanced Visibility = Attractive ValueA live, year-round TV deal worth $10 million would offer TNA unprecedented platform exposure and operational stability.

  2. Live Content is KingLive broadcasts—especially weekly—are premium content in today’s wrestling world. Fans value immediacy, and advertisers pay up. Silva’s emphasis on live programming demonstrates strategic foresight.

  3. Momentum Builds MomentumThe cross-promotion with WWE (through the WWE-TNA multi-year partnership enabling talent exchanges and crossover appearances) has already generated renewed interest, expanding both TNA’s fanbase and its legitimacy.


Wrestling TV Viewership: Amazing Numbers That Still Matter

Here’s some trivia to illustrate how far by today’s standards a major TV deal could go—and why it matters:

  • TNA’s All-Time High vs. WWE Raw (2010)In March 2010, when Impact! went head-to-head with WWE’s Raw, it drew approximately 4 million viewers in the opening hour—a record for the show—before settling around 2.2 million toward the end. Meanwhile, Raw pulled in about 5.6 million viewers that same night.

  • Why It Matters NowWhile current viewership across cable networks is fragmented, major wrestling shows still deliver strong live television appeal. A weekly live TNA broadcast on a prominent network could tap into millions of viewers eager for in-ring action and compelling characters.


Summary: Solid Foundations, Real Momentum

  • Verified strengths:– Targeting a ~$10 million-per-year media rights deal– Positive negotiation momentum, aiming for an October resolution– Active talks with The CW, A&E, and leverage of CAA for negotiations– Growth in attendance, digital reach, and crossover visibility via WWE partnership

  • Rumors (clearly flagged):– Wednesday-night slot to directly challenge AEW Dynamite– Possible strategic involvement or facilitation by WWE in TV positioning

  • Outlook:If TNA secures this deal, it could cement its status as a major player in wrestling’s media landscape—reviving its brand and potentially entering the upper tier of televised wrestling promotions.


Sources

  • New York Post

  • PW Torch

  • Sports Illustrated

  • SLAM! Wrestling

  • 411Mania

  • TPWW

  • Cageside Seats

  • Express News

  • TalkSport

  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Reddit (r/TNA discussions)

  • Wikipedia

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