Interview with Dixie Carter

[TNABaddboi 0]

Exclusive Interview with Dixie Carter

 

In this exclusive TNAwrestling.com interview, TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter recently sat down to discuss a number of topics, including SpikeTV, Panda Energy, the creative process, Bound For Glory and much more!

 

Q: TNA’s obituary has been written many times over the past three years, how does the offer from Spike TV make you feel?

A: People writing our obituary has never bothered me. We have had a specific business plan in place for the past three years and being broadcast on a major cable network was one of the goals of that plan. Of course, we have modified the plan based on certain market conditions, but all-in-all going from being a start-up company, we have accomplished quite a bit in three short years, with more big news to come.

 

Q: Can you give us some detail about the Spike TV deal?

A: iMPACT! debuts October 1st and will air Saturday nights at 11:00 pm ET as part of their Slammin’ Saturday night programming block. Spike has been wonderful to work with and we are very excited about exposing more people to our product. We look to Spike to be aggressive in promoting our show on their network.

 

Q: You held a conference call with your talent just before the Spike announcement was made; why was that important for you to do?

A: The talent is the most important aspect of this company. Without their hard work every time they step in to the ring, we would have never gotten this TV deal. It was important that they heard the news first and for me to be able to thank them and recognize their vital contributions to this company.

 

Q: It has been written that when the Jarrett’s lost their original investor that you were the one that went to Panda Energy and sold them on the idea of getting into the wrestling business. Why did you think it was a good fit?

A: Well, first of all, it wasn’t a good fit with their business portfolio. But, Bob Carter is an entrepreneur and he saw the potential in a marketplace that had one company with a $900 million market cap and no competitor. To illustrate my point, just this week, Panda announced that they were building their second fuel ethanol plant. To produce steam for both facilities, they will convert two billion pounds of cow poop into clean burning bio gas saving an energy equivalent of 2,000 barrels of oil per day. That’s the definition of an entrepreneur.

 

Q: Your background is in entertainment and sports marketing, how is wrestling different as an entertainment property?

A: First, there are a lot of similarities. You are selling personalities and an emotional involvement to the consumer. You are using television, live events and products to create those emotional touch points. The goal is to make the emotions of the consumer so strong that they integrate them and your product into their lives. It’s interesting that most music artists or actors want to be athletes and athletes want to sing or act. Wrestlers have to be both.

 

Q: Since TNA left FSN, and before you made the Spike TV announcement, there was little in the way of official statements from TNA about what was going on. What went on during those two months?

A: A lot of meetings. We were fortunate enough to have interest from several places and we obviously could not compromise contract negotiations or comment on the speculation. In the end, we felt that Spike TV and their audience was the best place for us to be. These guys understand our audience and have experience in wrestling. They value the product and we look forward to growing our property together.

 

Q: With talent reductions by WWE, there are a lot of free agents looking for work. What is TNA’s strategy about signing free agents?

A: First and foremost, our priority is to expose our talented roster to as many people as possible. They have worked their butts off for TNA and deserve this exposure to show the world how amazing they are. As far as potential free agents, we will look at them on a case-by-case basis. We take a great deal of pride when people praise our locker room and our wrestler’s attitudes. Anyone that joins us needs to be the right fit in several ways.

 

Q: That brings up an interesting question, a lot was written and said about Matt Hardy joining TNA and that he even called you to tell you he was going back to WWE. How much of that was true?

A: We did speak to Matt and I think Matt saw a lot of opportunity with us but in the long run, he was loyal to who brought him to the dance. I respect that and hope for that same loyalty from our guys. I like Matt and wish him the best and hope he achieves the headline status with WWE that he deserves.

 

Q: Do you know Vince McMahon and have your ever spoken to him?

A: No on both counts but I think he is a marketing genius. I heard it was his 60th birthday this week, so I will take this opportunity to wish him a happy birthday.

 

Q: Do you ever see yourself with an on-camera role like Vince?

A: No.

 

Q: Would you like to elaborate?

A: No.       

 

Q: When is TNA going to tour?

A: Right now we are fortunate to have a wonderful partner in Universal Orlando. We are able to expose our product to the 15 million people from around the world who visit the park. Not only to those who attend our shows, but the exposure we get through the park on days we are not taping. When it makes sense for us and the timing is right, we will take our show on the road and my hope is that will be in 2006.

 

Q: There seems to have been quite a bit of turnover in the creative department over the past year. Why so much change?

A: First, I disagree. I feel that we have continued to add or subtract parts of the creative process as needed. We have some of the same people contributing to the process now that were doing so two and three years ago. I am very encouraged with the process right now and our recent product proves we are headed in the right direction. Have we made mistakes in the past or re-evaluated our direction? Sure we have, but any successful company does that.

 

Q: Tell me about Bound For Glory?

A: Bound For Glory has been discussed as part of our strategy for close to two years and the time is right for the company to execute it. We want the Bound for Glory weekend to be a celebration of our fans, our talent and our company. Last year before Victory Road, we had a fan fest and it was wonderful. I was seven months pregnant, but the energy and interaction that I had with our fans let me know we would have a big year and we have. Bound for Glory will be a special weekend where the people who have made us what we are, have the opportunity to interact with our talent. This will be our signature event and I am confident it will be our best PPV yet

credit: TNAWrestling.com

 

Interesting read. Thoughts....

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Well, it's a good thing that she has no plans to get an on-camera role.

[Guest *KNK*]

Well, it's a good thing that she has no plans to get an on-camera role.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Linda McMahon said that once too...

[Richard 0]

I'm sure that Vince (either one) talked into it.