It was reported earlier this week that Spike TV won't be renewing TNA Impact Wrestling when the contract expires in October, and while TNA president Dixie Carter sent out an optimistic message to the talent, it is expected that the reports are true.
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According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, while Viacom, the parent company of Spike TV, is still in negotiations with TNA regarding Impact Wrestling, multiple sources have confirmed TMZ's initial report that Spike TV informed Carter in a meeting they won't be renewing the deal come October.
The report indicates that there are two main reasons for why Spike TV won't be renewing the deal, with one being that the network doesn't believe the product is cost efficient for the amount they pay for it and the second part being the fact that TNA lied to them about Vince Russo's involvement with the company.
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TNA had told Spike TV that Russo was done working with them, but Russo accidentally sent an email to PWInsider instead of TNA employees, which sent the organization into panic mode due to the fact that Spike TV was under the impression that TNA cut all ties with Russo, whom the network didn't like.
Following the fallout and revelation that Spike TV didn't want to keep Impact on its network this fall, TNA once again cut ties with Russo, this time for real.
Regarding the talks, Spike TV is reportedly willing to stay quiet about the negotiations and would even allow TNA to move to another network sooner than October if the company is able to ink a deal elsewhere. It's said that Spike TV wants to make the transition as smooth as possible.
It is a tough time for pro wrestling when it comes to striking television deals as networks realize they can't get prime advertising revenue by airing professional wrestling, which explains why the WWE inked a lackluster television deal with NBC Universal earlier this year.
There is also some speculation that Spike TV is just playing hardball in its negotiating tactics and that most networks have their fall schedule set by now, so they could just be stringing TNA along, however most reports indicate that the network doesn't want to carry TNA in the fall.
There has also been some speculation that Spike TV will ultimately keep TNA on its network but look to pay less money in their licensing fees while there have even been rumors floated that Spike would purchase TNA as they did with Bellator MMA.
The future on Impact Wrestling is up in the air, but it could very well be off of Spike TV come October.
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