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TNA LOSES UK TV DEAL

By Mike Johnson on 2016-11-01 07:21:00

Challenge in Great Britain, the digital cable channel that had been airing TNA programming for years, announced this morning that as of January 2017, they would no longer be working with the promotion.   Challenge aired TNA in both Great Britain and Ireland.

The loss of the deal, unless TNA has something better to replace it with, is going to be a massive blow to the company.  Challenge was considered at times, to be the number two licensee to the company, second only to the company's India TV deal with Sony Six.  The loss has to be seen as catastrophic given that the Challenge deal was the springboard TNA utilized to run Europe annually for what was generally considered the biggest week of the TNA calendar. 

Challenge aired not only Impact but TNA PPV events, Xplosion and original TNA programming including several seasons of TNA reality series British Bootcamp, which introduced Rockstar Spud and Grado, among others, to the promotion as well as provided TV exposure for Noam Dar, El Ligero and others. 

A statement on the Challenge TV website today noted, "We know that many TNA fans will be disappointed to hear this, but we wanted to let you all know that as of January 2017, Challenge will no longer be the home of TNA in the UK. TNA has been a huge and important part of Challenge’s story over the years and we will treasure some great moments like the British Bootcamp and UK tours. We have been proud to bring UK viewers coverage of TNA and have huge respect for the company and its fans. TNA is packed with great talent and we know they will continue to do great things – we wish them all the best."

Challenge had been working with TNA as far back as 2011 and last signed a deal with the company in January 2014, at which point TNA Impact was described as, "one of the top performing programmes on Challenge" and "the most watched weekly wrestling programme in the UK." 

As previously reported on PWInsider.com, the annual TNA tour of Great Britain will not be taking place this January.  It will be the first time since 2008 that the promotion has not run that annual tour.

Obviously, there has been no statement from TNA as of this writing.

Thanks to Craig Brown for all his help.

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