Details On TNA Programming In Japan
As noted earlier here on WrestlingInc.com, TNA and NTV G+ have announced Impact Wrestling will air on their network.
More details have surfaced about the show airing in Japan. In what could be seen as a negative, episodes of Impact Wrestling will have approximately a 1 month delay due to translation work. The pre-Christmas episode which aired on December 20th, 2012 on Spike TV was the first episode that aired in the country.
The good news is Impact Wrestling will have multiple re-runs on the network. The current schedule has each episode airing at least three times per week.
TNA Insider states that the belief going into this TV deal is that G+ will be pushing Impact Wrestling as their primary brand of pro wrestling airing on the network from this point forward. Impact will have more than three times more timeslots than Pro Wrestling NOAH, which is currently facing financial difficulty. Classic pro wrestling matches are also shown on the network as well as some special indy events from the country.
TNA's deal with NTV G+ brings TNA very close to WWE in terms of programming and valued time slots. RAW, Smackdown and NXT are aired on JSports channels, which are also premium satellite and cable channels in the country. RAW and Smackdown, however, are shown during earlier time slots. WWE does have a greater market reach in Japan, mostly due to their international recap show WWE This Week, which airs on many free to air local channels in Japan.
TNA Genesis 2013 will air on NTV G+ on February 16, 2013.
Source: TNAInsider.com