There have been reports that Discovery Channel's VELOCITY Network was interested in acquiring the rights to TNA Impact Wrestling and while the deal was seen as a "worst-case scenario" for TNA, the two sides are reportedly in serious negotiations.
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It was reported this week that VELOCITY Network is only available in high definition and is in just 48 million homes, so TNA was relieved to have an offer but were hoping that it would lead to more offers and they wouldn't have to sign on with them.
The rights fee that VELOCITY would pay TNA was also reportedly less than a quarter of what they currently receive from Spike TV to air Impact Wrestling every week.
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According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, TNA was in talks with VELOCITY about Impact Wrestling before the story broke that Spike TV was dropping the company's flagship program from its network. Per the report, TNA was talking to other channels but at one point a few weeks ago the talks with VELOCITY were said to be the most serious.
It was revealed earlier this month that Spike TV was planning on dropping Impact when the contract between the two expired in October, but the network recently announced that it would keep TNA on through 2014, moving it to Wednesday nights while both sides attempt to find it a new home.
The move to Wednesday will likely be permanent as the WWE has announced that SmackDown is switching to Thursday nights which would mean TNA will likely stand pat on Wednesdays rather than go head-to-head with a superior product.
TNA, much like the WWE, has been looking to trim its budget recently and has released several office workers and merchandise workers. The TNA office crew has been described as a "skeleton crew."
The company has also opted not to re-sign any top-tier talent while they search for a new network, and Bully Ray was the first casualty as he left TNA upon his deal running out and gave the impression he wouldn't be back.
TNA is still looking for a new deal and has plenty of time to ink one, but the talks with VELOCITY were said to be very serious at one point.
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