There is no arguing with the fact that this year has seen Impact Wrestling produce possibly it’s best programming in nearly a decade.
It’s pay per views have delivered on every aspect, Impact has continued stories that develop week by week, but the move to Pursuit Channel at the start of the year meant many fans couldn’t see it, this has however now been resolved.
Earlier this week news broke that Impact’s parent company Anthem Sports & Entertainment was buying AXS tv & HDNet Movies. These networks have a far greater reach than Pursuit, and more importantly AXS tv is a much more logical fit for Impact than an outdoor channel.
IMPACT Wrestling, announced Thursday it has entered into an agreement to broadcast its flagship weekly two-hour program IMPACT! nationally across the U.S. on AXS TV, a leading music, sports, entertainment and lifestyle channel in which Anthem Sports & Entertainment recently acquired a majority interest.
Immediately following IMPACT Wrestling’s biggest pay-per-view event of the year Bound For Glory, which takes place on Oct. 20 in Chicago, IMPACT! will begin airing weekly on AXS TV. The program will continue to simulcast globally on IMPACT Wrestling’s official Twitch channel.
“IMPACT Wrestling is a perfect fit for AXS TV’s slate of live sporting events and combat sports content,” said Ed Nordholm, Chief Corporate Officer of Anthem Sports & Entertainment and President of IMPACT Wrestling. “The newest addition to our growing portfolio of media assets, AXS TV’s audience perfectly aligns with our passionate IMPACT Wrestling fan base, and this move increases the reach for our weekly program with distribution in over 50 million homes. We could not ask for a better home and are excited by the opportunities to work with Mark Cuban and Anschutz Entertainment Group, our partners in AXS TV, to bolster IMPACT Wrestling’s presence in the market, as we continue to deliver action-packed and innovative weekly programming featuring some of the most athletic and gifted stars in the professional wrestling industry.”
In my opinion this is HUGE for Impact, this gets the greatest wrestling programme on tv back in front of the largest number of eyeballs possible. My only ask is that when all eyes will be on it at the end of October after Bound For Glory the production values are upped. Say what you will about the Impact Zone, what it did allow for was a product that looked great on television. It has been a little uncomfortable to watch a few episodes of Impact where the athletes are giving there all and there is no energy in the arena, it’s poorly lit and it just seems to make the product – dare I say it…Pre-Bischoff WCWish. If Scott, Don and the team can fix this there is no worries in my book the great product is there it just needs a presentation to match and I hope with the AXS tv push – this will allow that to happen.
Here in the UK, Impact airs every Friday night on 5Star, Freeview 30, Sky 128 and Virgin 151 and on Fight Network Sky Channel 192 on Sundays at 9pm.
Showcasing top professional wrestling stars such as IMPACT World Champion Brian Cage, plus Rob Van Dam, Rhino, Moose, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan, Rich Swann, Michael Elgin, the high-flying X-Division and the Knockouts, including Gail Kim, Tessa Blanchard, Taya Valkyrie, Tenille Dashwood, Rosemary, Madison Rayne and Su Yung, IMPACT! has been a leading destination for professional wrestling fans, televised globally in 120 countries since its inception in 2002, while growing its popularity and reach on YouTube, Twitch, Pluto and social media platforms.
