Pacific Strengthens Grip on Wrestling Card Market with New
TNA-Fox SportsNet Deal
TNA Wrestling continued its rapid growth as they announced a national television
deal with Fox SportsNet. A new program, "Impact!", will debut on
June 4 on Fox SportsNet affiliates throughout the United States.
The announcement was made by TNA Executive VP and two-time NWA World Heavyweight
Champion Jeff Jarrett during a segment on Fox SportsNet's "The Best Damn
Sports Show Period". TNA had also announced the deal during their recent
Total Nonstop Action weekly Pay-Per-View event.
And nobody is more excited about the announcement than Pacific Trading Cards,
which entered into a partnership with TNA Wrestling last year and released
its first wrestling card product, 2004 Pacific TNA Wrestling, last month.
"Impact!" will debut on Fox SportsNet June 4th and will be filmed at
Universal Studios at Universal Orlando Resort.
"This is a great announcement for Pacific and for any distributors or hobby
shops that sell wrestling cards," said Jeffrey Morris, Pacific Vice-President
of Marketing. "Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has evolved into a very
family-oriented program with the focus on the acrobatic and athletic skills of the
wrestlers. They have some big names like Jeff Jarrett and Raven, but they are also
developing their own core of superstars - from AJ Styles, America's Most Wanted, and
Chris Vaughn to Trinity and Tracy Brooks. 'Impact!' on Fox SportsNet will solidify
TNA Wrestling as a mainstream property and will strengthen the market for the Pacific
TNA trading card set."
Pacific's TNA wrestling cards went on sale in April. The product features on
event-used mat card and two autographs per hobby box. Autographs include current male
and female TNA stars, as well as NWA legends like Rowdy Roddy Piper and Harley Race.
There is also a non-permanent tattoo transfer in every pack - an element to the product
that has become very popular with the fans at the Nashville Pay-Per-View events.
In addition to "Impact!", TNA also has a national Pay-Per-View event every
Wednesday, while "TNA Xplosion" is a nationally syndicated weekly cable
program available in many major U.S. markets.
"The national telecast of 'Impact!' on Fox Sports Net marks a milestone for TNA
Entertainment and the wrestling industry," Dixie Carter, President of TNA
Entertainment, LLC said. "Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has continued to grow
and exceed expectations over our history. As we celebrate our second anniversary in
June, we are excited this opportunity with Fox Sports Net and Universal Studios Orlando
will expose a wider range of viewers to our distinctive brand of professional
wrestling."
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is "The New Wrestling Alternative" and features
some of the most well-known names in wrestling today like Jeff Jarrett, Raven, D'Lo Brown,
Sting and Konnan along with the industry's hottest new stars such as AJ Styles, Abyss,
Chris Harris, James Storm and CBS' Survivor Pearl Islands star Jonny Fairplay. TNA Wrestling
separates itself from the competitors by delivering quality family programming that focuses
on the athletic in-ring action instead of over the top, shocking antics that have become all
too common in the mainstream.
"I am pleased about the entertainment value wrestling can bring to FSN," said George
Greenberg, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, FSN. "I believe
'Impact!' will bolster our Friday afternoon schedule and provide another FSN destination for
young viewers."
The debut of "Impact!" marks the first time since March of 2001, when World
Championship Wrestling's Monday Night Nitro went off the air, that a national television
audience will have an option of wrestling programming.
"We are thrilled to have Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's 'Impact!' here at Universal,"
stated Paul Meena, Vice President and General Manager of the Universal Studios Florida Production
Group. "Our 22,000 square foot Sound Stage 21 is the ideal venue for the weekly show as it
allows the freedom to create the spectacular set they envision. It also affords our theme park
guests the opportunity to be part of the production audience and cheer for their favorite
wrestling icons from a 'front row seat'".
Fox SportsNet affiliates:
Fox Sports Arizona
Fox Sports Midwest
Fox Sports North
Fox Sports Pittsburgh
Fox Sports South
Fox Sports West
Fox Sports Detroit
Fox Sports Minnesota
Fox Sports Northwest
Fox Sports Rocky Mountain
Fox Sports Southwest
Fox Sports Bay Area
Fox Sports Chicago
Fox Sports Florida
Fox Sports New York
Fox Sports New England
Fox Sports Ohio
Source: Pacific Trading Cards, Inc.
Date: May 19, 2004
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