Inside the Numbers: TNA Impact! Wrestling Ratings

The Thursday, July 7 edition of TNA Impact! Wrestling scored an overall cable rating of 1.11 with 1.6 million viewers.  However, looking into the numbers, TNA did not perform too badly for Spike TV.  As a matter of fact, TNA was ranked in the top 10 for overall viewers on cable television Thursday night.  Here's a look inside the numbers.

Impact! Wrestling was ranked No. 9 in overall viewership on cable TV Thursday night.  However, it dropped to No. 22 in key adult demos.  Last week's show scored a solid 1.3 cable rating with 1.8 million viewers.

Peragine's View

I was a little bit shocked TNA could not maintain its solid 1.3 cable TV rating from last week.  It was the 300th episode and a pretty good one.  The decline in viewership, but being ranked in the top 10 for the night, meant that it was possible there wasn't many people watching television. 

Overall, I think TNA would have liked to seen a better result.  Nevertheless, Impact! Wrestling was a good show to watch again this week.

Ratings to Grow Once TNA Goes on the Road?

PWTorch is reporting that TNA will be taking Impact! Wrestling on the road in Huntsville, Ala. on August 25.  It also mentions that after the show in Huntsville, TNA will begin a regular schedule of TV tapings outside Orlando, Fla. 

This was certainly exciting news.  I believe two things will happen.

First, TNA will be in a much better and bigger atmosphere.  It's tough to base a characters reaction in a 1,100-seated sound stage.  Now, TNA can elevate and have a better connection with fans in front of 3,000-4,000 people. 

It isn't fun watching almost the same crowd each show and having cheers and boos added into the editing.  Orlando, Fla. was great for TNA to grow, but now it has a great opportunity.

Secondly, I believe ratings will be growing in a faster pace.  TNA usually scored between a 1.1-1.3 cable TV rating.  Going on the road, letting viewers see different venues and being in a bigger atmosphere will help the company possibly grow out of the 1.1-1.3 TV ratings. 

Impact! Wrestling must continue to produce solid shows such as this past month and have momentum heading into the August 25 date when it goes on the road.