TNA Impact! Ratings Jump Higher From Last Week's Numbers; Reaction Up Slightly

The early numbers are in and it looks promising for Total Nonstop Action (TNA).  After a 1.02 tv rating last week, TNA rebounded nicely, scoring a final 1.23 overall with 1.52 million viewers.

This week's rating was the highest since TNA moved back to Thursday nights in early May.

The first hour performed well, notching in a 1.23.  Meanwhile, the second hour slumped to a 1.16.  The highest rated segment featured the Mick Foley and Ric Flair showdown, which scored a 1.27.  Shockingly, the lowest was the steel cage match at the end of the show.  Kurt Angle versus Abyss scored a 1.08.

For TNA, this is a very good sign, as competition on Thursday nights is competitive.  The company looks to score bigger next week when it will air live on Spike TV at 9 pm EST.  That show will be centered around Ric Flair versus Mick Foley in a Last Man Standing match, plus the return of Hulk Hogan to set up the six way match at Bound For Glory. 

Meanwhile, TNA Reaction was up slightly, scoring a final 0.54 rating with 683,000 viewers.  Last week scored just a 0.49 cable rating.  

PERAGINE'S TAKE:

The Impact! rating is obviously good news for TNA.  It was the highest since its move back to Thursday nights in early May this year.  More impressively, it was up against tough competition. 

Next week, with TNA going live, I predict the show will score a rating between 1.2-1.4 with over 1.5 million viewers.  TNA could reach that by hyping the show even more and what it is offering to fans.   

As for Reaction, the show seems to struggle at times.  I do like the concept of the show, as it gives great behind the scenes footage to help build on future editions of Impact! and pay per views.  I think Reaction will continue on after Spike TV and TNA's initial agreement.  For one thing, the show itself sometimes draws more than WWE Superstars.