Source: Various
A variety of sources are confirming that iMPACT Wrestling’s flagship show will be moving its timeslot in the United Kingdom and Ireland. iMPACT Wrestling – which is now confirmed as the most watched wrestling show in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years – will be moving its first run episodes from Tuesday nights at 10:00pm to Sunday nights at 9:00pm. The show will remain on Challenge TV. Earlier this month, iMPACT Wrestling received a record-breaking 297,000 viewers for one of its first run, Tuesday night episodes. Under the time slot change, iMPACT Wrestling will continue to hold the 10:00pm Tuesday night time slot for repeats of the first run Sunday night show.
There is no plan to change the current schedule for Xplosion, which airs on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm.
Earlier today, Simon Rothstein – iMPACT Wrestling’s publicist in the United Kingdom and Ireland – confirmed the move via his Twitter account. His tweet said: “The first run of IMPACT WRESTLING in the UK/Ireland is moving to Sunday nights at 9pm on Challenge. Repeat at 10pm on Tuesdays. Please RT”
The U.K.’s Daily Star also posted a story about the move, citing that the first Sunday episode of iMPACT Wrestling will air on Sunday, August 28th. Further, they reported that Andy Barton, an iMPACT Wrestling’s Executive Vice President, commented: “We’re thrilled with the success we’ve been enjoying in the UK and were determined to reward the fans by giving them exactly what they’ve been asking for – iMPACT Wrestling earlier in the week.”
The Daily Mirror’s TKO Blog added that Barbara Gibbon, Director of Production for Sky Entertainment Channels, commented: “We are delighted to be working with iMPACT Wrestling at this exciting time. British and Irish fans are among the most ardent in the world – and we are thrilled to be able to bring them all the latest action on Challenge.”
And since there are myriad TNA-hate sites out there that would challenge the earlier note in this story that iMPACT Wrestling is the most watched wrestling show in the United Kingdom and Ireland over the last 10 years, the Daily Mirror’s TKO Blog also confirmed that, “In the last six months, the program has doubled its audience and become the most watched weekly wrestling show on British television of the last 10 years.”
For even more on this story, head over to U.K.-based The Daily Dropkick to read their coverage. Enjoy!
If you are a fan from the United Kingdom or Ireland, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this change. Is this what you wanted? Will you be watching the show at 9:00pm on Sundays? What are your general thoughts about this move? Please use the comments area below to let us know your thoughts. Thanks!
Being in the UK, i am more than happy to have TNA on at an earlier date and time than usual. 🙂
@NayNay
I agree with you, although its still not early enough (for me anyways). Obviously they can’t get it on earlier due to WWE Smackdown, but regardless, I will watch it. Most watched wrestling show in the last 10 years for the UK, eh? That’s impressive.
I’ve seen a lot of “Lowest Rated Episode” headlines on the dirt sheets in regards to TNA in the past, yet amazingly none have led with “Impact Wrestling UK’s Highest Rated Wrestling Program In The Last 10 Years!”
Ha ha! I guess announcing the truth wouldn’t go along with the dirt sheets’ continuing self-created storyline that iMPACT Wrestling is a major failure. Bunch of idiots!
TNA is only “highest rated” cuz its on FREE TV, whereas WWE is on Subscription-TV in the UK.
So WWE is still the more popular and still makes the most money.
It’s a business decision on both WWE and TNA’s part. WWE decided to be on a subscription channel and TNA decided to be on a free channel. In the end, what that creates is a free product (TNA) that is more popular in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland than a paid product (WWE). Keep clicking around these stories on this website and you’ll see that not only is TNA more popular than WWE over there, but it is the most watched professional wrestling show on that side of the pond in the last 10 years.
Numbers don’t lie.