news on tna's current financial situation

[Joekishi]

How is TNA making money beyond selling ads, ppvs, and DVD's?

Are SpikeTV a majority owner in the brand?

Really this really has irked me forever

[Voldemar H. "Brak" Guerta]

TNA has always been losing money, this isn't anything new. I also don't think they would have re-signed Sting and Scott Steiner so they could just use them in undercard feuds if they were worried about they finances. It seems like ever since TNA got the FSN deal they have just been getting a ton of money from the Carters and whoever else invests in the company (used to be Panda Energy, don't think they do anymore), with the continued promise from Jarrett & Co. to just promise to keep improving the product so someday TNA can break even.

Monthly PPVs outside of Orlando and live TV shows is still a far ways off, although TNA is still doing Lockdown in St. Louis, and Bound For Glory is a lock for somewhere else outside of Orlando. 2 PPVs outside of Orlando is still an improvement, however little it is. I just wish TNA would handle it's writing and booking better, as today's TNA is no where near as great as TNA 2004 was (and early 2005 TNA, for that matter).

[Deleted]

theloosecannon said:

It seems like ever since TNA got the FSN deal they have just been getting a ton of money from the Carters and whoever else invests in the company (used to be Panda Energy, don't think they do anymore),

The Carters own Panda Energy. Morphoplex used to be the big sponsor.

[Andrew is Good]

It's tough. It really is. TNA was probably in much better shape when they were in Nashville. I think they should start having people pay to see TNA to make a little more money.

[4TheGlory]

I think some of the more rich wrestlers should take some pay cuts for the good of the company.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

I think another problem as is not having sponsors. I mean the WWE as people paying them money to run a commerical about there product like during the show like the WWE does. JR talking about skittles for example. As dumb it sounds the WWE is getting something from it. TNA needs to get the same thing.

Which they had one but there gone and wasn't even a big company anyway. They need something like a Coca Cola or a Pepsi like company or some kind of major resturant chain to sponser them.

[Aya Reiko]

You know... TNA is sounding a lot like WCW more and more... and not in a good way.

Let's think about TNA's revenue sources

Their biggest one is probably the PPVs. Unfortunately, leaving the save haven of Orlando ends up costing the company money. (Does anyone have buy rates for some of TNA's latest PPVs?)

They get little to nothing from ticket sales for Orlando shows. (Do they get anything for PPVs?)

What they do get from advertisers cannot be much. When you generate ratings in the low-mid 1's, you're no position to make demands about the ad-rates.

They really leaves merchandising, which I know nothing about the sales there.

Makes you wonder how the hell TNA even makes money, much less enough money to afford what they are doing.

[Voldemar H. "Brak" Guerta]

andrewisgood said:

It's tough. It really is. TNA was probably in much better shape when they were in Nashville. I think they should start having people pay to see TNA to make a little more money.

Not possible, as one of the working agreements with TNA running shows in Universal Studios virtually rent-free is that paying customers of U.S. can go to TNA shows free of charge.

4theglory said:

I think some of the more rich wrestlers should take some pay cuts for the good of the company.

If you look over the list of "rich wrestlers" in TNA, the odds they would take a pay-cut are slim to none.

steinerecliner said:

I think another problem as is not having sponsors. I mean the WWE as people paying them money to run a commerical about there product like during the show like the WWE does. JR talking about skittles for example. As dumb it sounds the WWE is getting something from it. TNA needs to get the same thing.

Which they had one but there gone and wasn't even a big company anyway. They need something like a Coca Cola or a Pepsi like company or some kind of major resturant chain to sponser them.

Good idea, but you're shooting far too high. Sponsorhsip would be great for TNA, but they aren't gonna get any big sponsors like Coca-Cola or Pepsi. TNA has two big factors working against it's campaign for mainstream sponsorship and/or press: It's a pro wrestling company, and TNA is a money pit (at the moment). Considering that Midway is making their video game, though, as soon as it hits the final leg of development, expect a lot of advertisement from Midway for the game, as well as their other games (kinda like the old Acclaim sponsorship deal with ECW).

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

^^^ Really it's TNA's money pit. The WWE hasn't had a problem getting a big company to sponser them. That could be also the Mainstream publity WWE gets for themselves.

TNA need a sponser of something. As great having a rent free arena. That what killing TNA in the long run. No ticket revenue is a bad thing period.

You can't pay you talent or make money just going of Mechendise revenue which I don't know either how much that is. But can't be a huge sum. PPV buyrates as well. Which can't be that huge also.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

There are too many problems with TNA right now and if they dont get rid of some of those problems and then get the others under control, TNA may be dead in a few years.

[darthpipes]

One thing that's not helping TNA is that they don't charge for tickets at the Impact Zone. They are making no money in Orlando whatsoever. This is going to kill any company.

Back in WCW, Bischoff used to have PPVs like Hog Wild where he wouldn't charge a gate. And he would have this PPV EVERY YEAR! It's just a money pit.

Excellent point that was brought up when it was stated that TNA wants to take WWE down now. Instead of recognizing their limitations, they are spending way beyond their means. They need to worry about being a successful product and be content with their number two status because they are going to be number two for a very, very long time.

[HMARK Center]

I have to repeat, outside of mentioning that BFG didn't make them money, and Angle/Sting aren't helping them draw like they should, I still didn't see anything that said "TNA is now losing money."

We have absolutely no numbers, no profit/loss sheets, nothing to base anything on at this point.

That said, again, this isn't good news for them, as, even if they ARE still making money, their numbers have still gone down. Something needs to be rectified pretty damn quickly.

But, again, the whole "they'll be bought out in a year or two" talk doesn't fit here, since there's nothing that says "they're back to always losing money."

Someone said earlier "They were probably better off in Nashville"...problem is, that's where they began losing money. TNA had NEVER turned a profit, to my knowledge, until a little while after they had begun on Spike.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

I don't think TNA ever turned profit. Even with Spike TV they never turned. They were close at times but then feel more backward from what I read. I never read anything that said TNA made money.

Angle and Sting can't just off the fly draw numbers. There as to be something they there doing to draw interese.

I mean look at Hogan signing with WCW. He draw because he first match was against Flair. When you have two of the biggest names in Wrestling going one on one for the title. Yes that will draw. Plus that made it look like a big deal when Hogan came in. They had a parades and then a confronce and contract signing. His first match was on the PPV.

Now compare that to Sting and Angle. Sting was anounced that he Signed on a new years Impact from Christian. His first match was a tag match. They hyped it but fans were like ok he teaming with Christian against Jarrett and Monty Brown. Now neither Jarrett or Brown are a Ric Flair in name value. All they did for Sting was show videos. The hype for Sting wasn't there. TNA can't expect Sting just being there is going to change everything.

The things is if you are a follower of TNA, everyones knows it was more of a return then a debut as that made it look. And if you follow TNA you know that Sting and Jarrett as more then one match in TNA before this feud.

Now look at Angle. That show a video on PPV of him. Ok nice start. Then he makes his first appearnce on Impact to go eye to eye with Samoa Joe. Good segement Yes but IMO wrong time. His first match was on TNA only two hour IMpact for a time change on Spike against Abyss. That were they went wrong.

They should had Angle first in person appearnce on that Two hour special with the same segement. With hype videos leading up to it so fans would want to tune in and see what happens.

Then he could done his inforcer job for BFG. After that his first match should been on PPV but I don't know of Samoa Joe would been my first choose as his first match. Abyss could been it. I felt that hyping the first Joe vs. Angle match and have fans really want to see it. Then book it and fans would pay to see it. That one way of drawing a good buyrate I think.

[AriadosMan]

^ Excellent comparison with Hogan/Flair. TNA has legit names, but they can't get the big bucks out of 'em because they book 'em all wrong. Joe vs. Angle could have been a great storyline and rivalry and they end it in just three months? TNA hotshots everything to try to get an immediate ratings pop.

As it is, seeing TNA take a more ROHish approach and emphasize indy guys wouldn't be a bad idea. I'd rather the company build itself up slowly to the point where they can actually afford hiring big names rather than going bankrupt in a rapid expansion. Unfortunately, you know they're gonna spring for RVD and sign him to a hugely expensive contract the moment he leaves WWE.

[Joekishi]

steinerecliner said:

I don't think TNA ever turned profit. Even with Spike TV they never turned. They were close at times but then feel more backward from what I read. I never read anything that said TNA made money.

Angle and Sting can't just off the fly draw numbers. There as to be something they there doing to draw interese.

I mean look at Hogan signing with WCW. He draw because he first match was against Flair. When you have two of the biggest names in Wrestling going one on one for the title. Yes that will draw. Plus that made it look like a big deal when Hogan came in. They had a parades and then a confronce and contract signing. His first match was on the PPV.

Actually that Bash at the beach did a horrendous buyrate, wrestling really did fall on its ass back then as NOBODY was a draw.

[Deleted]

basicboogeynomix said:

steinerecliner said:

I don't think TNA ever turned profit. Even with Spike TV they never turned. They were close at times but then feel more backward from what I read. I never read anything that said TNA made money.

Angle and Sting can't just off the fly draw numbers. There as to be something they there doing to draw interese.

I mean look at Hogan signing with WCW. He draw because he first match was against Flair. When you have two of the biggest names in Wrestling going one on one for the title. Yes that will draw. Plus that made it look like a big deal when Hogan came in. They had a parades and then a confronce and contract signing. His first match was on the PPV.

Actually that Bash at the beach did a horrendous buyrate, wrestling really did fall on its ass back then as NOBODY was a draw.

A 1.02 is bad? It was the 2nd biggest buyrate for Bash At The Beach and 20 most bought WCW PPV. Isn't that better than most WWE PPVs now?

Honestly, I don't know.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

basicboogeynomix said:

steinerecliner said:

I don't think TNA ever turned profit. Even with Spike TV they never turned. They were close at times but then feel more backward from what I read. I never read anything that said TNA made money.

Angle and Sting can't just off the fly draw numbers. There as to be something they there doing to draw interese.

I mean look at Hogan signing with WCW. He draw because he first match was against Flair. When you have two of the biggest names in Wrestling going one on one for the title. Yes that will draw. Plus that made it look like a big deal when Hogan came in. They had a parades and then a confronce and contract signing. His first match was on the PPV.

Actually that Bash at the beach did a horrendous buyrate, wrestling really did fall on its ass back then as NOBODY was a draw.

Look at the buyrates numbers here. Ok Hogan vs. Flair made a huge impact on buyrates. The Bash at the Beach in 94 draw a 1.02 buyrate. Slambree the PPV the last PPV I can find before Bash at the Beach and Hogan drew .48 That is a huge increase no matter how you look at it. I don't think the rest were much different before hand. When Hogan came into WCW it was made a big deal and because of that it made a impact on numbers.

[Rick Mad]

Yeah, a 1.02 is a pretty tremendous number. I don't think any WWE PPVs even come close to that anymore besides Wrestlemania.

Is 1.02 for that BATB even correct? It seems way too high. Not that Hogan isn't a draw, but...

[Deleted]

rickmad said:

Yeah, a 1.02 is a pretty tremendous number. I don't think any WWE PPVs even come close to that anymore besides Wrestlemania.

Is 1.02 for that BATB even correct? It seems way too high. Not that Hogan isn't a draw, but...

I got it from here and they seem pretty on the ball.

[Rick Mad]

Well color me impressed.