TNA Impact Wrestling Officially Cancelled By Destination America

TNA President Dixie Carter recently took part in an interview with Sports Illustrated's website as part of a feature that looked at the company's relationship with Jeff Jarrett and Global Force Wrestling. Within the article, it was officially revealed that Impact Wrestling will be off Destination America as of February 2016. Dixie Carter commented on the struggles her company will face as they look into 2016 with no television in the United States.

"The biggest challenge for us is building a brand in the U.S. That€™s where we need to grow. We€™re contracted to Destination America through the end of the year, and we are in discussions going on for 2016. TNA will continue exist, and on a level that far exceeds what we€™re currently doing. I€™m looking ahead five years down the road, not a year down the road."

The cancellation of TNA by Discovery Channel (which owns Destination America) is likely due to the very low advertising rates professional wrestling is bringing in. TNA's overall viewership on the network is very good in comparison with what other shows on the channel draw, but the amount of money advertising are willing to pay during the show is minimal. Moving forward, as the company looks to find a new television home, a large hurdle for the company to overcome will be the fact that the TNA brand is badly diminished after years of questionable booking and lousy business practices, such as their highly publicized issues with paying personnel on time. It had originally been reported a couple of months ago that TNA was likely out at Destination America at the end of the third quarter 2015, which would be the end of September. That is when TNA's original deal they signed with the network expires. It appears that Discovery is giving TNA an opportunity to find a new home for their television show, while remaining on the air, by extending them for a couple of extra months. In good faith, SpikeTV did the same thing for TNA in 2014 when they decided to cut their ties with the company. As of right now, TNA currently has no television tapings scheduled going forward. The company is still advertising first-run episodes of Impact Wrestling on Destination America from now until October 7.