Tag: tbs

Tony Khan discusses AEW time slot following NHL-Turner Sports deal

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan has commented on a recent deal between the NHL and Turner Sports and how the deal may have an effect on AEW’s time slot.

On Busted Open Radio, Khan said that the Wednesday night on TNT slot was their home, but they would consider moving if it was a good deal for both the company and its fans.

“I know Wednesday night is our slot and our home,” he said. “I’m thrilled with our partnership with TNT. It’s the lifeblood of our company and our primary revenue source and t’s the way most fans get exposed to AEW and see our show. And tonight and every night that we do Dynamite, for a lot of wrestling fans, it’s a really important night of the week. So I want everyone to [be] rest assured that they’re not going to have to worry about these kinds of major…you know, we have a contract with over two and a half years left for Wednesday nights in this slot. And if there was ever an opportunity to move or if there was a deal to be had, I would consider it. If we did something, it would have to be a really good deal for AEW and it would have to make sense for us. As it stands right now, that is the spot we’re in. If we move, I would certainly consider a deal if there was something in it for AEW.”

NHL and Turner Sports announced a seven-year media rights deal this week that will see NHL games air on both TNT and TBS beginning in the 2021-22 season. There has been no indication regarding what days NHL will air on either station.

TBS reveals premiere date for John Cena-hosted ‘Wipeout’ revival

Posted on by Joseph Currier

TBS’ John Cena-hosted revival of the obstacle course competition series “Wipeout” will premiere this April.

It was announced today that the “Wipeout” revival will premiere on TBS on Thursday, April 1 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Cena is hosting the show with comedian Nicole Byer, with model Camille Kostek serving as the host in the field and covering the contestants’ progress.

Cena is also an executive producer for the series.

“Wipeout” will feature “new format twists and elements that will push the athleticism and willpower of each contestant pairing to even greater extremes, all while delivering more than a few epic fails. Each game has been designed into three rounds and now features a jaw-dropping, three-stage, obstacle course consisting of multiple strategy and decision points designed to test the stamina of the competitors. The series’ iconic big balls also make a return, bringing many laughs and surprises along the way for fans.”

“Wipeout is the show that quarantine has been begging for…it has something for everyone in the family,” said Corie Henson, EVP/Head of Unscripted Development, TNT, TBS, truTV. “John and Nicole are the best pairing of 2021 and together with Camille, they bring the perfect balance of wit and cheerleading. We’ve created an edgier version of the original that fuses extreme athleticism with laugh-out-loud moments that fans of the show will be talking about long after the episode airs.”

“Wipeout” originally aired on ABC from 2008 to 2014.

Cena, who is filming his upcoming “Peacemaker” series for HBO Max in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, told Sports Illustrated in an interview published earlier this month that there’s “no logistical way” he’ll be able to appear at WrestleMania 37 this April due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions. Cena’s most recent in-ring appearance was his cinematic Firefly Funhouse match against “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt at last year’s WrestleMania.

The trailer for “Wipeout” is available to watch below:

Cody to judge ‘Go-Big Show’ competition series on TBS

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Cody will be a judge on a new TBS reality show, Go-Big Show.

After tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite ended, Cody appeared and mentioned that while he is currently out of action, he will be a part of a new talent competition. He threw it to host Bert Kreischer, who explained the premise of the show.

Go-Big Show will feature celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles and Cody judging the likes of monster trucks, alligator trainers, stunt archery, and other feats. It will also highlight behind-the-scenes stories from the challengers, whose aim is to impress the judges in head-to-head competition.

The show is taking place at the Macon Coliseum in Georgia, where strict COVID-19 safety protocols are taking place. The arena will remain empty, but will have a drive-in audience with spectators. The show will be produced by Propagate and Matador Content and will launch in 2021.

Cody has not been seen on AEW television since being laid out by Brodie Lee and the Dark Order on the August 22 episode of Dynamite.

AEW in talks with Turner, no deal signed yet

Posted on by Josh Nason

All Elite Wrestling is in talks with Turner on a broadcast deal that would see pro wrestling return to their airwaves for the first time in 18 years.

However, there is no signed deal as of now, reports our Dave Meltzer.

This verifies a Thursday report in The Wrap that Tony Khan’s new wrestling project is talking with the former home of WCW. However, Meltzer says the idea in the piece of going with a season vs. a year-round weekly product is not accurate. 

He also could not confirm TNT would be the destination for AEW, but that it is one of the suitors in play. AEW has not commented at this point.

Last week, new AEW hire Jim Ross said a two-hour show will debut this October on a major cable network which was verified by Meltzer Sunday. Meltzer added that two major US broadcast outlets that offer streaming services are interested in AEW.

If this deal was to move forward, Turner has several possible homes for AEW programming in addition to their sports-centric streaming service B/R Live. Turner Sports did dabble in streaming PPV last Thanksigiving with the Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson golf challenge, but it was a technical disaster leading to the stream being made available for everyone free of charge and refunds for those who paid.

For decades, Turner was the home of pro wrestling on TBS and TNT, a relationship that ended when Turner canceled wrestling on both stations in 2001.

There will be more on AEW’s search for a broadcast home in the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, out Thursday.

March 26, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The imminent collapse of WCW

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Even to the end, they couldn’t be completely honest to their own employees. There is no hiatus, and by the end of the day, TBS Inc. publicly announced it would no longer air wrestling on its stations after a 29-year run.

This clears the way for an expected purchase of what is left of the company, the name and trademarks owned by the company and the videotape library by the WWF, plus however they negotiate contracts of wrestlers, which is expected to go down within two weeks. The combination of the purchase and the end of wrestling on the Turner networks, may mark the biggest news story in the modern era of wrestling. If not the biggest, it ends the challenging story for first place, as the final end of the wrestling war started when Vince McMahon raided Hulk Hogan, David Shults, Roddy Piper and Gene Okerlund from Verne Gagne and Jim Crockett in December of 1983, signalling the start of the wrestling war, which he appeared to have won many times, but it was never final until now.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.