As everyone in the UK already knows SKY TV will be closing down the Bravo network where TNA iMPACT! airs. When this announcement was made awhile back Sky promised TNA Wrestling programming would remain on the air in the UK on another Sky TV channel.
With the impending closing, UK TNA fans have been bombarding TNA Wrestling and news sites like ours with questions about where iMPACT! will air on their television – and when. TNA Wrestling released this official non-statement from SKY today via their official Twitter and Facebook pages:
“From Sky to UK Fans: TNA (iMPACT) will be broadcast on a different Sky channel when Bravo closes, we are trying to find out which channel this will be and will let you all know as soon as we find out”
Apparently, SKY still has not made a final decision. There has been speculation that WWE may be putting some pressure on SKY to not show TNA iMPACT! on a “good” channel in a premium time slot due to WWE’s PPV relationships. As far as I can tell this speculation is just that – speculation. There has been no evidence that WWE is trying to pressure SKY. I do imagine that there are internal turf wars amongst programming directors of each of the individual channels as well as advertiser considerations complicating the issue. The only solid news is that it appears the rumors of SKY changing their minds and dropping TNA Wrestling are baseless.
We will update you as soon as we get some solid info on the channel change.
Well if it’s shifted on to any of the Sky Sports channels then I’m out and off TNA for good I’m afraid.
I agree with UK TNA Fan. The whole reason for me getting into TNA in the first place was because I didn’t have Sky Sports channels, and I don’t intend on getting them in the future.
Not having TNA on sky maybe no great loss at present, since the arrival of Hogan and Bischof things are heading the way of WCW. unbelievable story lines, ex-wwe stars signing etc..
Get back to proper wrestling, no gimmicks or stories
Good point well made, Former Fan. I acknowledge the irony of this comment but things have really ‘dumbed down’ since Hogan and Co. came on the scene. TNA is getting far too silly. Is it too much to expect a match which isn’t actually fixed or involves cheating?!
TNA can’t be shown on sky sports as WWE have written into all its TV contracts that no other wrestling may be shown on the network, so sky sports is definetly out! i’d expect it to end up on something like sky 3, or challenge, challenge would be better for TNA as it will be moving to freeview and give it a bigger potential audience than WWE in the UK
I agree with all of the comments to keep it off sky sports they should not have gotten rid of bravo as they are going to lose a lot of fans and the story lines on tna are getting ridiculus just keep it simple
As someone who isn’t familiar with the sports channels across the pond, could you guys maybe give us some insight as to why (other than the storylines) you wouldn’t watch TNA Wrestling if it was on one of these Sky channels? Is it just that those channels aren’t available in your cable package? I’m just trying to understand what the situation is over in the UK with iMPACT! airing. Thanks!
Extreme sports airs TNA xplosion on fridays as well as the ppv’s 5days after the event Post Xplosion. seems logical Impact shud be shown here also. it was a huge part of my saturday nite
In answer to your question, Joe, the Sky Sports channels are very expensive, so many people don’t have them.
What happened to TNA explosion on Extreme on Friday as advertised? It was replaced by a ridiculous but bizarrely entertaining programme called Man vs. Beast!
Does anyone actually know if TNA is to be aired on challenge tv, and if so when will this change take place. My brother who has severe special needs, loves TNA, and is confused, as am i to what is going to happen now.
Any comments or information will be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Nic, Lindsey,
We have yet to receive an answer from SKY. I am going to write to them again today and see if there is any further information.
please put tna on sky 3 as it is a free channel and would increse the viewing numbers hence gainig more people becoming tna fans and less staying with wwe as you have to pay to watch the sports channels.
i think tna shold be on extreme channel and for dixie to bring bk the six sided ring.
Well, I’d love TNA to be aired on the Sky Sports channels. Would finally get to see it in HD !!
However, the whole reason SKY shut down Bravo was to take the programming and enhance its own channels (SKY 1,2,3). So I guess SKY 3 will be the logical destination.
I also agree with the comparison of TNA to WCW. I now only watch TNA now and again rather than weekly.
I much preferred the older product (pre Hogan/Bischoff)
‘Less is more’
I can not believe that i can no longer watch TNA wrestling in the uk, i used to be a fan of the WWE but i havent bought sky sports channels for five years now because it is too expensive, but watching TNA wrestling now i dont miss the WWE anymore because TNA wrestling is more entertaining with better Wrestlers am even a big fan of Mickey James, right about now feeling bored, Miss TNA Wrestling on the weekend (bring it back)
cant believe tna has been taken off extreme sports aswell as bravo, theres something more going on than what is being told, why would you not want to air a programme with a big viewing audience, i was hoping to watch genesis on extreme sports 5 days after the event but once again us uk fans dont seem to get a look at, well looks like your going to lose a lot of respect for this farce, whoever is handling this issue isnt doing to good a job cmon wheres tna for uk
Again guys thanks for your feedback.
Meccy,
While I don’t speak for TNA and merely report news and rumors I am sure as they are working to grow product awareness they would also rather be on one of the wider viewed channels and not a premium one.
I have another email in to SKY but have yet to receive a response. We will keep you updated when we do.
Vince McMahon really needs to get a grip and stop trying to buy or crush the competition by any means necessary? Thats not the mark of a good businessman with sense at all? NWA/WCW, ECW, AWA and the smaller wrestling promotions he brought up over the years or put out of business and owns the rights to their matches on video etc. Isn’t doing the wrestling business any favors at all, and without the competition the demand for fans to see various promotions isn’t there either and thus the wrestling business is killing itself really. But SKY not showing alternatives to WWE is a damn crime altogether, its true TNA was alot better Pre-Hogan & Bischoff (and was rather unique with the “mexican style” 6-sided ring) but as a company if it needs to expand then it requires that we able to watch and view alternates to WWE right?!
Channels like; FX or ITV 3 & 4 might be another home for TNA. But just not something like SyFy or UK Living where the name or channel itself is inappropriate for TNA in general. And at the same time, what about putting British Wrestling back onto a major Satellite/Cable channel while SKY is at it. Like the current one; ‘XWA’ for example?! Why SKY even got rid of the Wrestling Channel several short years ago, when one considers the amount of wrestling fans out there is yet another mystery in itself. Tons of various Wrestling house promotions from accross the globe and shoot interviews to boot each day and night etc *sigh* . C’mon give us some TNA back and pronto!
Have they removed the option for UK fans to watch IMPACT! via the TNA On Demand website, or has the link just been moved?
Hey Nic Nak,
I logged into my TNAonDEMAND.com account and I didn’t see the link for the iMPACT! videos either (not that I could watch them there anyway, living in the states and all). Have you tried to watch the show on Spike.com? Give it a shot and let us know if you can access the episodes:
http://www.spike.com/full-episode/crimson-sees-red/41913
Good luck!
Tried and it’s not accessible for us in the UK! Not happy…..
Sorry to hear that, Nic Nak. If anyone on here can find some other method of viewing iMPACT!, let us know!
Just found the following announcement on this link:
http://www.tnastars.com/2011/01/25/dixie-carter-announces-tna-is-back-on-u-k-tv/
I have just looked up the TV Schedule for Challenge TV. The site http://www.locatetv.com is saying that TNA Impact is to be aired on Thurday 4th and Friday 5th February at 12 am. However, if I look at my Virgin TV guide, there is no listing!
Hello guys
Ijust got back from…well who cares? Just to let you know that from February CHALLENGE TV will be airing TNA Impact
I’m not sure about the PPV, I believe they will be shown still on Extreme Sports but so far they aren’t great at keeping a schedule.
Oh and yes TNA is nothing like it was I hate it when shows try to hold on to the past like it’s some kind of law you must adhere to. Never was a Hogan fan and the reason I watched TNA is cos it was all young and vibrant wrestlers who wrestled, non of these stupid storylines they’re doing now.
All the Best
Pete
just looked up challenge yes its finally back tna impact thursday at 12 midnight and friday midnight followed by xplosion straight after