TNA Impact! Wrestling Goes Live: Will You Watch the Revolution?

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) has some new life to breathe on. It's weekly show, Impact! Wrestling, has a brand new time slot and is set to go live for the summer beginning tonight at 8 p.m. EST. 

TNA, which has gotten off to a rougher start in 2012, hopes that overtime its ratings and show quality will rise to higher numbers. Dixie Carter, who spoke with the media in a conference call yesterday, covered some important information on how TNA plans to move on forward:

• TNA expects lower than normal ratings as viewers must first get adjusted to watching Impact! Wrestling at 8 p.m. EST rather than its usual 9 p.m. time slot.
• Impact! Wrestling will be live for 12 weeks (13 is possible) before switching back to a tape show format. Carter expressed that she would like Impact! go to live permanently but there would be issues to discuss before making such a big move.
• Spike TV had requested TNA to go on the air for three hours around Thanksgiving last year, but Carter wanted to focus on the quality of the show rather than quantity. 
• Carter would like TNA to cut its pay-per-views from 12 to between 8-10. Carter said she would be happy if they even reach to 10.
• And lastly, TNA is changing its show formats to reach a wider audience by having a much more real effect to its programming and seeing what people normally do not see on a wrestling show.

Peragine's Take

First, I would like to make it clear that it is about time TNA escapes its taped show format to going live.

Although spoilers may not reach a wide audience, it can certainly provide the information to have even the slightest viewers decide to skip watching Impact! Wrestling if it is not to their liking. With going live, the Eric Bischoff elements of surprises and unpredictability could make the show fun again.

In theory, if ratings rise, TNA should stick to going live permanently. However, this is an expansive option for the company and Carter was on the point when he said certain things must be discussed before making the move. 

Secondly, TNA would make a gutsy move to lower its PPV totals. There aren't many people willing to pay a high price tag to watch a three hour show once a month. It is not a secret that TNA does not produce strong numbers and people wonder if a certain PPV is even worth it. I think TNA would do itself a big favor to cut it down to 8-10 a year or begin slowly decreasing its PPV size in 2013.

Lastly, Impact! Wrestling becoming a revolutionary show? We know TNA could really hype a major surprise, but despite it all, the ratings have been what was expected. I think it will be, to say the least, very interesting to see TNA focus in on showing aspects of Impact! Wrestling fans would normally never see on TV. It provides a different feel and also giving fans the power to control the matches can only be done live. 

Time will only tell if this gamble pays off.