Why doesn't Universal advertise TNA?

[Sephiroth]

I used to wonder this, and now that they are headed back to the Impact Zone it seems a pertinent question. I can't think of a single time I have seen any mention of TNA or the Impact Zone on any of Universal's advertising for their theme park. They always mention the Blue Man Group, Emeril's restaurant the Harry Potter Park-but never TNA. I also don't think any TNA wrestlers have ever taken part in any special events in the park either. If I were in Dixie's position I would actually be trying to make this happen. Even just something like "Get ready to rumble with the stars of TNA wrestling!" during one of their commercials would be a boost for the company. And for some reason I could totally picture Abyss having some small role in the annual Halloween Horror Nights event at the park. It would be a great and easy way to help increase TNA's visibility to non-wrestling fans. So why hasn't this ever happened?

[jason1980s]

I wonder if in the playboy online spread of Traci Brooks (bumped from magazine by a cartoon, sad), it was ever mentioned anything about TNA as a wrestling company or if all we had to go by was the TNA t-shirt she was wearing. I envision someone viewing the photos thinking "she must be a wrestling fan."

It doesn't come down to why isn't Universal advertising, it comes down to why isn't TNA taking advantage of their relationships with the companies, groups or D list celebrities. WCW had Baywatch, WWF had Boy Meets World, Drew Carey. TNA could've done a Jersey Shore. The writers were probably thinking "I wonder why that wrestling company brought in Jwoww but didn't ask to be on our show."

Sometimes you have to be assertive to get things done. You can't just expect someone to know what you need or what you are thinking. Those running TNA are equal to someone sitting home, unemployed wondering why major companies aren't calling them for job interviews. You have to apply yourself. TNA does not do that.

The only advertising they've done that I can think of is the college campuses and I imagine that wouldn't get too many viewers.

[Next Level was WRONG]

Maybe some higher-ups at Universal are embarrassed to have wrestling on their lot?

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Nov 2, 2013 9:56:30 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

I wonder if in the playboy online spread of Traci Brooks (bumped from magazine by a cartoon, sad), it was ever mentioned anything about TNA as a wrestling company or if all we had to go by was the TNA t-shirt she was wearing. I envision someone viewing the photos thinking "she must be a wrestling fan."

It doesn't come down to why isn't Universal advertising, it comes down to why isn't TNA taking advantage of their relationships with the companies, groups or D list celebrities. WCW had Baywatch, WWF had Boy Meets World, Drew Carey. TNA could've done a Jersey Shore. The writers were probably thinking "I wonder why that wrestling company brought in Jwoww but didn't ask to be on our show."

Sometimes you have to be assertive to get things done. You can't just expect someone to know what you need or what you are thinking. Those running TNA are equal to someone sitting home, unemployed wondering why major companies aren't calling them for job interviews. You have to apply yourself. TNA does not do that.

The only advertising they've done that I can think of is the college campuses and I imagine that wouldn't get too many viewers.

This is an great point. I remember when TNA did Impact here earlier in the year. They had one Billboard up. And Radio work, one of the stations did ticket giveaways. Which it's good but when the WWE is in town there all over the radio on multiple stations including the one TNA was on. I don't recall anybody coming in town to do an autograph session to help promote it. The WWE had Daniel Bryan when Raw was here a couple weeks ago. Which yeah there hottest star aside of Cena was doing that. Which was a nice change because we normally always get Orton because he's the local guy.

TNA needs to have the week of the show in town which now it's to late since there no longer on the road as much, have one the big names doing that. I wonder why TNA don't do what WWE and WCW did. Local TV no matter the station even the one WWE is on or WCW. The rival company would air a commercial. I wonder how much that would changed if TNA spend the cash to do that. I'm sure it would gained more ticket sells.

[Michael Coello]

I think it's cause, unlike TNA and their taping schedules, those events are available every day. The rides and restaurant have to be, and the Blue Man show is scheduled at least once a day. TNA, on the other hand, at most, goes once out of the week, and less if there's multiple taping.

[Sephiroth]

Nov 2, 2013 9:56:30 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

I wonder if in the playboy online spread of Traci Brooks (bumped from magazine by a cartoon, sad), it was ever mentioned anything about TNA as a wrestling company or if all we had to go by was the TNA t-shirt she was wearing. I envision someone viewing the photos thinking "she must be a wrestling fan."

It doesn't come down to why isn't Universal advertising, it comes down to why isn't TNA taking advantage of their relationships with the companies, groups or D list celebrities. WCW had Baywatch, WWF had Boy Meets World, Drew Carey. TNA could've done a Jersey Shore. The writers were probably thinking "I wonder why that wrestling company brought in Jwoww but didn't ask to be on our show."

Sometimes you have to be assertive to get things done. You can't just expect someone to know what you need or what you are thinking. Those running TNA are equal to someone sitting home, unemployed wondering why major companies aren't calling them for job interviews. You have to apply yourself. TNA does not do that.

The only advertising they've done that I can think of is the college campuses and I imagine that wouldn't get too many viewers.

This is pretty much my thought exactly. I've said in a couple of other threads that I felt TNA was actually on a pretty good course several years ago. They were drawing in steady ratings, they were getting sponsorship and cross promotion like Playboy, they had just signed their first video game deal, they were even running house shows. What they needed to do at that point was start raising their visibility more to expand their audience. Getting Universal to advertise the Impact Zone would have been a great first step. As ridiculous as this may sound I do wonder why the did not take advantage of Brooke Tessmacher working at a Hooters to try to get a foot in the door in that direction; work out a deal for TNA wrestlers to do autograph signings at Hooters restaurants now and then, and for Hooters to show Impact and TNA PPV's on their bar TV's. I also can't think of a single time I've seen any TNA wrestlers put in an appearance on any other shows on Spike-WWE and WCW never hesitated to have their wrestlers put in cameos on Turner or USA produced shows.
On a similar note, I feel TNA misused both the Knockouts at their peak and Shark Boy in this respect. Back then the Knockouts were drawing the highest ratings for TNA, so in my mind that made them the obvious choice for promotion. They should have been trying to line up fitness or beauty product endorsements for them, trying to get them small roles on TV shows or movies, or even just interviews on local radio stations. By contrast, Shark Boy's merchandise was selling the best of any TNA had-so I would have made him the face of TNA's merchandising, especially targeted at the little kids in the audience. I'd have tried to produce commercials featuring Shark Boy playing with TNA's action figures with little kids, I'd have tried to have him to personal appearances at toy stores, at the Kid's Choice Awards, or even seen if I could land him a guest slot on a popular kids show; imagine Shark Boy voicing a character on Spongebob, how much better a cross-promotion advertisement could you get?

[DZ: WF Legacy]

I go there every year or so, and I actively look for a building or something that even mentions TNA. I never see anything, so I just ride that Men in Black ride instead and yell at Will Smith for cancelling Fresh Prince.

[Todd Pettengill]

Could also have to do w/ TNA being on a Viacom channel & Universal doesn't really want to promote that. Sure, they'll accept the rent money to shoot the show there, but no need to cross promote.

[Deleted]

I think Universal would be very reluctant to put up banners and billboards with "TNA Wrestling" on them. If you don't know wrestling, what are the families with young children walking the lot going to think when they see that?

[jimmyjames]

Unless they have a financial interest in it, then there is no reason for Universal Studios Orlando to promote something they only have a loose connection to. The ones is on TNA to advertise better. The only time I remember any TNA commercials outside of Impact is the occasional ones on Raw.

[jason1980s]

It's been about 12-14 years since the short lived WXO ceased almost as soon as it started. It is best known for Ted Dibiase as a COO type, Fred Ottman being stuck in a car and Johnny Ace cutting a goofy promo wondering what the X stood for.

I think in 14 years after the closing of TNA fans will still probably remember WXO with Dibiase as the COO, Ottman being stuck in the car and Ace not knowing what the X stood for over anything TNA related.

I am not a huge TNA fan but have watched it on occasion and I just find nothing much memorable. I remember Nasty Boys v. Dudley Boyz. I've always been a rare Nasty fan. The next thing I remember in a near 4 year period is Austin Aries sitting with Hogan on a couch, a few weeks ago. I'm reminded to how fans meeting Aries described him as arrogant at autograph signings. HOPEFULLY just doing a heel gimmick because his acting was just awful! Guy wouldn't put my but in a free seat at a show down the street.

[Sephiroth]

Nov 2, 2013 22:28:54 GMT -5 @torgaddon said:

I think Universal would be very reluctant to put up banners and billboards with "TNA Wrestling" on them. If you don't know wrestling, what are the families with young children walking the lot going to think when they see that?

That its a wrestling show, since the world "wrestling" is in the title? But yeah, I have thought for a while that the company name might be a tad limiting. Wasn't there an attempt to rename the company "Impact Wrestling" a few years back?