TNA-FSN info from Observer

[Hektik 0]

From the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

 

The talked about plan at this point, if the Fox Sports Net deal comes through, would be to tape every Thursday night in Orlando for a Sunday night airing. They would move to Sunday monthly PPV Shows at $29.95 and the weekly PPV shows would be dropped. For the full timers, with one PPV and four TV's, they'd be getting more dates and thus more money. If it's cut back to taping two shows at once, they'd be doing three dates per month, which is the same as the current situation.

 

Jeff Jarrett had a meeting with talent and told them they need to dress and look like stars. Jarrett and Dutch Mantell were told by the intermediaries of the hoped for Fox Sports Net deal that if the guys on the show look like they should be fans in the crowd, that they won't last past two weeks, and Jarrett and Mantell took that to heart. Jarrett told them that they are working on a TV deal, it isn't done, and that they weren't going to talk about it untill it was. Raven then got up and basically reiterated what Jarrett said, since he's cinstantly pushed guys to develop unique characters and change their looks. When he was done, B.G. James said, something like "Thanks for your input," in a very sarcastic way which made some people laugh. While everyone knows there is truth too what they are saying, the complaint is that Raven and Jarrett are probably the highest paid guys not working for WWE right now so it's easy for them to say spend a lot of money on your costuming.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

They have a point really. Jack Evans for example looks like he came out of the crowd wearing a wife beater and funky looking sweats plus wrestling in sneakers. Same can go for Teddy Hart's workout pants and sneaker look.

 

I'm sure they won't be around gain, but it's an example.

[Michrome 0]

I guess this means the end of some of the X guys.

[The Buzz 0]

I don't think BG James should be making smart comments, as he's pretty much useless in the ring, and has lost a lot of value on the mic.

 

Abyss

Sting

Raven

Jarrett

Lynn

Styles

Sabin

Shane

Douglas

Slash

Sinn

Ron Killings

etc etc....I really don't see many guys in TNA that look like fans in the audience as far as attire. Teddy Hart and Evans are the only that come to mind. Hmmm...

[Tawren 0]

The talked about plan at this point, if the Fox Sports Net deal comes through, would be to tape every Thursday night in Orlando for a Sunday night airing. They would move to Sunday monthly PPV Shows at $29.95 and the weekly PPV shows would be dropped. For the full timers, with one PPV and four TV's, they'd be getting more dates and thus more money. If it's cut back to taping two shows at once, they'd be doing three dates per month, which is the same as the current situation.

Why, hello WWE2.

[Mole 0]

When he was done, B.G. James said, something like "Thanks for your input," in a very sarcastic way which made some people laugh. While everyone knows there is truth too what they are saying, the complaint is that Raven and Jarrett are probably the highest paid guys not working for WWE right now so it's easy for them to say spend a lot of money on your costuming.

That is bullshit. If you get paid, I am sure you can save a little money to buy a suit or atleast a shirt that goes with a tie for godsake.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

The talked about plan at this point, if the Fox Sports Net deal comes through, would be to tape every Thursday night in Orlando for a Sunday night airing.  They would move to Sunday monthly PPV Shows at $29.95 and the weekly PPV shows would be dropped.  For the full timers, with one PPV and four TV's, they'd be getting more dates and thus more money.  If it's cut back to taping two shows at once, they'd be doing three dates per month, which is the same as the current situation.

Why, hello WWE2.

Yeah that monthly charge would really need to drop to about 19.99.

[JoeDirt 0]

I really hope they get the TV deal, because more wrestling on TV = good thing.

[Astro101 0]

Prolly too soon to say it, but I hope they don't clip the matches badly.

[Guest OSIcon]

This business plan doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

They've added the additional expense of producing weekly cable television. Plus, they still have their already existing expenses such as flying in wrestlers (now the whole office and local wrestlers will also have to be flown in from Nashville to Orlando), paying the wrestlers (with one or two added paydays a month depending on if they do 3 or 4 tapings each month), the cost of the venue in Orlando, ect. On the flip side, the only sources of revenue they have are live gates for their TV tapings and monthly PPV plus what ever money their PPV's generate.

 

That's pretty unbalanced. Especially when you think about this week. I don't know how many buys TNA gets weekly and I am fairly sure the number is lower than this, but let's say they get 20,000 buys each week right now. That's 80,000 buys a month at 10 dollars a peice. Now the majority of those 20,000 buys each week are from the same people. So that means that 80,000+ people would have to order the monthly PPV in order for TNA to bring in as much from PPV as they currently are. The "+" is there because TNA would be losing 10 dollars in PPV revenue per customer each month since the cost per month will decrease from $40 to $30, so they would actually have to get even more customers to make what they currently make. That's really ambitious.

 

It is possible they plan on touring which would add another revenue stream, but the fact that they haven't drawn well at all in Nashville doesn't bode well for them to be able to draw well on a touring schedule.

[JoeDirt 0]

This business plan doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

They've added the additional expense of producing weekly cable television. Plus, they still have their already existing expenses such as flying in wrestlers (now the whole office and local wrestlers will also have to be flown in from Nashville to Orlando), paying the wrestlers (with one or two added paydays a month depending on if they do 3 or 4 tapings each month), the cost of the venue in Orlando, ect. On the flip side, the only sources of revenue they have are live gates for their TV tapings and monthly PPV plus what ever money their PPV's generate.

 

That's pretty unbalanced. Especially when you think about this week. I don't know how many buys TNA gets weekly and I am fairly sure the number is lower than this, but let's say they get 20,000 buys each week right now. That's 80,000 buys a month at 10 dollars a peice. Now the majority of those 20,000 buys each week are from the same people. So that means that 80,000+ people would have to order the monthly PPV in order for TNA to bring in as much from PPV as they currently are. The "+" is there because TNA would be losing 10 dollars in PPV revenue per customer each month since the cost per month will decrease from $40 to $30, so they would actually have to get even more customers to make what they currently make. That's really ambitious.

 

It is possible they plan on touring which would add another revenue stream, but the fact that they haven't drawn well at all in Nashville doesn't bode well for them to be able to draw well on a touring schedule.

I don't know, man...I don't think they can last _that_ long just on weekly PPVs...they _desperately_ need TV, and if they only had 2 taping dates a month plus one PPV it wouldn't be _that_ bad...

 

I forgot if I read this or not, but would the FSN show be 1 or 2 hours?

[razazteca 0]

Well I saw TNA for a 1st time in a long time at a friends house. It was a Saturday show which was probably a repeat from Direct TV. Anyways I saw the team 3 Live Kru which consist of BG James, Konnan, Ron Killings. Now Killings looked more professional than BG James or Konnan who were wearing glorified K-Mart blue light special jersey type shirts. At least Ron Killings has some muscle structure without his shirt while the other 2 members looked like somebody you would see at the mall or a baseball game. Would it hurt to get a siglet with team symbols on it or what?

 

Basically I am not a fan of wrestlers who wear shirts or vests in the ring during a match. The guy from AMW either Harris or Storm had a nice looking ring jacket that was red. Does The Amazing Red need to wear that black bandana?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I'm not following the idea that:

 

1. BG James who makes more than most of the guys too...being the guy to crack a financial joke.

 

2. Um...It doesn't cost shit to look like a star. You can look like a superstar in a singlet. Truth looks like a star in a pair of jeans. The idea that Jarrett has it easier because he makes more money...when all he wears are wrestling trunks is ridiculous.

 

Most guys have their own look down. Simon Diamond has his trademark robe, Swinger his jacket...it's really just as simple as finding something simple that you are identified with.

 

I do agree with Raven trying to get everyone to develop an identity of some kind. It has less to do with how you dress and more to do with a general feeling that the viewer gets when they see you. Take the Naturals for example...I think they're developing a pretty decent attitude that is really starting to just come off them...and they just wear tights too.

[razazteca 0]

The Naturals have the matching goofy hair deal going for them.

[Vyce 0]

Why is Raven being shit on by guys like James when he's 100% right?

 

If the talent looks like some schmuck from the crowd, like someone who runs a backyard fed or is nondescript like some indy guys appear to be, than they will fail. Having a distinct or unique look or character instantly boosts your chances of connecting in *some* way (good or bad) with the crowd.

[razazteca 0]

Maybe because Raven is not a Southern Redneck like BG James Armstrong the Roadie Dogg.

[JJMc 0]

$29.95? Geez... I haven't ordered one since October of '02, and even then I didn't think it was worth $9.95. Could be just me, though.

[BoboBrazil 0]

Wade Keller talked about this on his hotline today. He said the deal is almost done and TNA is looking at it like it is a done deal. He said they would only need 25% more buys for the monthly ppv than they currently get for the weekly ppv to make the same profit and costs would be much lower since they don't have to buy live ppv time every week and put on a live show. It is almost guaranteed that they would get those buys if they had a weekly tv show on national tv to promote to one big show a month in my opinion.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

It is almost guaranteed that they would get those buys if they had a weekly tv show on national tv to promote to one big show a month in my opinion.

No doubt about it.

[JoeDirt 0]

Wade Keller talked about this on his hotline today. He said the deal is almost done and TNA is looking at it like it is a done deal. He said they would only need 25% more buys for the monthly ppv than they currently get for the weekly ppv to make the same profit and costs would be much lower since they don't have to buy live ppv time every week and put on a live show. It is almost guaranteed that they would get those buys if they had a weekly tv show on national tv to promote to one big show a month in my opinion.

That's great news...more wrestling on my TV = good news. And hopefully they can evolve into viable competition for the WWE.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Anyone know what the purposed time slot is?

[BoboBrazil 0]

Dave Meltzer said they proposed time slot is Sunday nights with a possibility of Sunday afternoons and Wade Keller reiterated that today.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Dave Meltzer said they proposed time slot is Sunday nights with a possibility of Sunday afternoons and Wade Keller reiterated that today.

 

Either one is definitely better than that dreadful Saturday Morning WGN slot they were talking about.

[BoboBrazil 0]

They would only need like 15,000 buys for them to break even with a monthly ppv. With weekly national tv they should be able to get 20,000-30,000 or even higher. ECW averaged around 100,000 buys for their ppvs, but they had a rabid fanbase and wrestling was more popular then. ECW's final ppv of 2000 "Massacre On 34th Street" grabbed a monstrous near 400,000 people, probably due to people receiving it as a Christmas gift.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

This business plan doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

They've added the additional expense of producing weekly cable television.  Plus, they still have their already existing expenses such as flying in wrestlers (now the whole office and local wrestlers will also have to be flown in from Nashville to Orlando), paying the wrestlers (with one or two added paydays a month depending on if they do 3 or 4 tapings each month), the cost of the venue in Orlando, ect.  On the flip side, the only sources of revenue they have are live gates for their TV tapings and monthly PPV plus what ever money their PPV's generate. 

 

That's pretty unbalanced.  Especially when you think about this week.  I don't know how many buys TNA gets weekly and I am fairly sure the number is lower than this, but let's say they get 20,000 buys each week right now.  That's 80,000 buys a month at 10 dollars a peice.  Now the majority of those 20,000 buys each week are from the same people.  So that means that 80,000+ people would have to order the monthly PPV in order for TNA to bring in as much from PPV as they currently are.  The "+" is there because TNA would be losing 10 dollars in PPV revenue per customer each month since the cost per month will decrease from $40 to $30, so they would actually have to get even more customers to make what they currently make.  That's really ambitious.

 

It is possible they plan on touring which would add another revenue stream, but the fact that they haven't drawn well at all in Nashville doesn't bode well for them to be able to draw well on a touring schedule.

I don't know, man...I don't think they can last _that_ long just on weekly PPVs...they _desperately_ need TV, and if they only had 2 taping dates a month plus one PPV it wouldn't be _that_ bad...

You forget that they could also get sponsorship deals for their TV tapings. This would also put money in their pockets. Also, how many more people would watch NWA-TNA for FREE? I know I would. I wouldn't pay $10, but I would sure watch it for nothing. (Holy hell, that kind of sounded like Harry Caray.)

[JoeDirt 0]

Yeah, getting a decent timeslot on a good network is huge for them. I think a lot of people would give them a try that wouldn't for $10 a week. I don't know if they really should do monthly PPVs, but I guess they need the income from them.

 

Has anyone said when (if the deal goes through) the shows would start to air? In a few months? Immediately?

[JoeDirt 0]

They would only need like 15,000 buys for them to break even with a monthly ppv. With weekly national tv they should be able to get 20,000-30,000 or even higher. ECW averaged around 100,000 buys for their ppvs, but they had a rabid fanbase and wrestling was more popular then. ECW's final ppv of 2000 "Massacre On 34th Street" grabbed a monstrous near 400,000 people, probably due to people receiving it as a Christmas gift.

That _has_ to be a mistake. The last ECW PPV getting 400,000 buys? That's 150,000 more than recent WWE PPVs! But yeah, I checked it out and saw that it got a monster buyrate...weird.

 

I think TNA could get around what WCW was getting near the end, at the very least.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

ECW's final ppv of 2000 "Massacre On 34th Street" grabbed a monstrous near 400,000 people, probably due to people receiving it as a Christmas gift.

I don't have facts or numbers at my disposal, but logic tells me that there is no way in hell that ECW got 400,000 buys for a ppv. I don't think WCW ever got more than that but a couple of times. In fact, I don't think ECW ever got more than a 0.26 buy rate.

[BoboBrazil 0]

The problem being on FSN though is that they would be preempted quite a bit by sports games, especially if it is a night time slot.

[BoboBrazil 0]

I checked the buyrates on google and that is what turned up on all of the pages. What is weird is that the ppv before it got only around the 100,000 or so buys like every other ECW ppv. The only thing I can attribute it to is that tons of people got it as an early Christmas gift.