TNA Impact! Wrestling Plunges: My Thoughts on How to Improve the Ratings

This past edition of TNA Impact! Wrestling plunged in the ratings, most likely due to the stiff competition of the NBA Finals on ABC.  Impact! Wrestling scored a 1.08 (1.1) rating with 1.4 million viewers.  Last week, TNA scored a 1.2 with 1.7 million viewers.

Overall on the night, TNA Impact! Wrestling ranked 30th in cable television.  Meanwhile, ABC's NBA Finals had roughly 15 million viewers.

PERAGINE'S TAKE

Expected ratings drop for TNA.  Until the NBA Finals are completed, TNA shouldn't expect good numbers coming in.  It should be noted that in key demographics, TNA did decent for Spike TV, ranking 15th in males 18-34 and No. 6 in males 18-49 for the night. 

In my opinion, TNA should not take any focus off the X-Division.  TNA needs to continue to re-introduce the division after it virtually went off TV due to the Immortal and Fortune feud.

It is true that the "big name stars" such as Hulk Hogan draw the biggest, including an impressive 1.5 rating last week for his talking segment but it isn't the time to switch any game plans just to get the ratings higher.

At this point, the company needs to stick by what got TNA attention in the first place, and that is providing great wrestling matches in the X-Division.  This past episode, I was impressed with the longer matches and having the X-Division as the center spot.  Over time, the ratings will increase.  

Another option is to make the move to live television.  Tapings will not help TNA in the long run because of the spoiler reports and people expecting what to happen or not even bother watching. It's what helped WCW climb over the WWE in the ratings.  

Even holding live specials or getting outside of the Impact! Zone from time to time will help the company and show people they're major players.  It may not be simple, due to financial restrictions, but it is worth it all in the end.