Even More On TNA's TV Deal; Comments From Spike, WGN; & FSN

From the Multi Channel News website:

By R. Thomas Umstead 5/30/2005 7:50:00 PM

Upstart pro wrestling outfit Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling is on the verge of dropkicking FSN as it seeks a more lucrative TV tag-team partner, possibly Superstation WGN or Spike TV.

TNA and FSN have yet to agree on an extension of its one-year agreement, which expires May 31. The current deal calls for TNA to lease time on Friday afternoons for its weekly, one-hour series.

An FSN spokesman confirmed that the two sides were talking but would not address specific negotiating points. Executives from TNA, which also offers monthly pay-per-view wrestling events, could not be reached for comment at press time.

As the FSN deal expires, industry sources close to the company said TNA is talking to Superstation WGN and Spike TV about distribution of its weekly series. Unlike the FSN agreement, sources said TNA wants to pin a fee for its programming, which has averaged a 0.2 household rating over the course of its FSN run.

Superstation WGN would not comment on the matter. A Spike TV spokesman would not confirm or deny talks with TNA, saying that the male-targeted network listens to all different types of pitches from different types of programmers.

The more likely scenario for TNA would be a WGN deal, according to sources. For more, see R. Thomas Umstead s story on page 11 of Monday s Multichannel News.