Huge Update – Destination America ‘Using’ TNA To Build ROH?

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer

UPDATE x 5: Distressingly for talent, TNA’s future on Destination America was not addressed during the conference call today. During the conference call there was nothing really said except that they could not currently address the company’s future on the cable network. As you’d imagine, this didn’t make talent happy and they were already pissed off to begin with. MVP, Bobby Roode, Drew Galloway and others have gone on Twitter and clearly aren’t happy with everything that has been going down and the extreme lack of communication.

A source notes that no one at Destination America has been told anything different since the decision was made that TNA would cease airing on the network in September. As previously reported, Ring of Honor will serve as a lead-in into iMPACT! Wrestling and there are unconfirmed reports that ROH could also get an 11 PM replay after iMPACT! goes off the air. It’s always possible that, if the lead-in improves TNA’s ratings, Destination America could keep iMPACT! Wrestling on the air past September but at this time there is no indication that any change in the show’s status has been made.

Some fear that Destination America is “using” TNA and will wind up dropping them and airing ROH in the end as it comes at a much cheaper price. ROH also becomes the number two promotion in the United States as far as viewership is concerned as they have the Sinclair and Destination America broadcast deals. They are also running pay-per-views and live events while TNA is not. ROH PPVs have also been moved to Friday nights going forward.

The full details of the meeting still haven’t gotten out and the exact phrasing that Dixie Carter used in regard to the Destination America update isn’t known, but the fact that Carter didn’t address the company’s status with Destination America is concerning, to say the least. Destination America is also not denying the reports which should tell you something.

UPDATE x 4: TNA talent has begun tweeting about Ring of Honor’s deal with Destination America, promoting the fact that ROH will be the lead-in to iMPACT! Wrestling. This is reportedly something that TNA is doing on their own, as opposed to acquiescing to a request from Destination America. TNA and ROH do not have a working relationship; it is possible (though not confirmed) that TNA asked talent to do so during the conference call today.

While specifics around the conference call have not yet come in, it reportedly ran over ninety minutes. Some of the TNA talent on the line were not particularly happy with all the developments over the past week.

While some are questioning how TNA could not have had an exclusivity clause with Destination America, it must be said that UTA — the talent agency the company came on board with last year — negotiated the deal with the network and not TNA. UTA is an overall entertainment talent agency and genre exclusivity is obviously not a commonplace clause in general television contracts.

Samoa Joe’s contract with WWE NXT allows him to work ROH dates, although previous reports said that his deal did not allow him to work nationally-televised dates. It remains to be seen how WWE will react to Samoa Joe now appearing on Destination America with Ring of Honor. That may cause some issues.

UPDATE x 3: According to the ROH press release, the initial deal is for 26 weeks. Here is what their press release said…

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) (the “Company”) announced that it has signed a national broadcast deal with Destination America, part of Discovery Communications, for the Company’s professional wrestling promotion, Ring of Honor (“ROH”). ROH will premiere on Destination America for 26 weeks beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 8pm EST/7pm CST. The announcement was made by Joe Koff, Chief Operating Officer – Ring of Honor Wresting.

UPDATE x 2: Here are more details on the ROH TV deal …

* Several sources are also reporting that the Ring of Honor-Destination America TV deal caught TNA completely off guard.

* ROH will stay in syndication through Sinclair Broadcasting. The series on Destination America will be the same series that is owned and distributed by Sinclair Broadcasting. Episodes will debut over the weekend on the Sinclair stations and then air on Wednesday nights on Destination American.

* The relationship between Ring of Honor and Destination America relationship is something that has reportedly been built over the last several months and is independent of whatever is going on between the Network and TNA.

* Destination America wants pro wrestling content on their Network and they want to make the cable outlet a “destination” for that but it all depends on how good ratings are in the end.

* ROH will be seen weekly through at least the end of the year, but possibly longer.

UPDATE: Here is the official press release…

Destination America announced today that it has signed a national broadcast deal with professional wrestling league RING OF HONOR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., bringing one of the most respected wrestling organizations to the only network dedicated to all-American entertainment. Destination America is now the one-two-punch to professional wrestling, adding RING OF HONOR (ROH) to its line-up after launching IMPACT WRESTLING in early 2015. RING OF HONOR has been delivering top wrestling matches for ten years with captivating hard-hitting stars such as Jay & Mark Briscoe, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, The Young Bucks, Maria Kanellis, Adam Cole and Jay Lethal. Destination America will pack on the action beginning Wednesday June 3 with the series premiere of RING OF HONOR at 8/7c leading into brand new premieres of IMPACT WRESTLING at 9/8c.

“With the electric and intense matches that RING OF HONOR provides, Destination America is the network for fans to get an entire evening of jaw-dropping entertainment on Wednesday nights,” said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America. “RING OF HONOR showcases tenacity, athleticism and passion and it serves as the place where America’s favorite wrestling stars are born.”

“We are very excited to be partnering with Destination America for the broader distribution of the ROH programming,” commented Joe Koff, Chief Operating Officer – Ring of Honor Wrestling. “ROH will now reach an additional 57 million households including those in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and other large cities where Ring of Honor is not currently airing. ROH has a loyal fan base and is one of the fastest growing major wrestling franchises in the country. With this great partnership with Destination America, we can continue to expand our footprint and reach while producing entertaining, original content and continuing to provide wrestling fans some of the best wrestling content available.”

RING OF HONOR will premiere on Wednesday, June 3 leading into IMPACT WRESTLING, making Destination America the home for wrestling every Wednesday evening. The first match will feature the Briscoe Brothers, Mark and Jay, as they face off with the House of Truth in the main event. Also catch athletes of New Japan Pro Wrestling battle it out with the RING OF HONOR stars and follow former NFL lineman Moose compete against BJ Whitmer.

#AdamColeBayBay @DestAmerica pic.twitter.com/jenBMSCKQk

— Adam Cole (@AdamColePro) May 27, 2015

ORIGINAL: Destination America sent out the following today on Twitter, announcing that “Ring of Honor is coming to Destination America” on June 3rd at 8PM ET. The show would air one hour prior to iMPACT!, which is moving to Wednesdays on that evening. More details as they become available…

BREAKING: @RingOfHonor is coming to Destination America! Wednesday, June 3 at 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/dcIMmI3AGQ

— Destination America (@DestAmerica) May 27, 2015

EXCLUSIVE **BREAKING NEWS**: Destination America Finally Issues A Statement, CONFIRM That They Are DROPPING TNA IMPACT! Wrestling In The Fall!!!