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The Carter family is looking to sell TNA. Gee, never saw that coming. Why would anyone in their right mind want to unload a company that’s lost hundreds of millions of dollars? Perhaps a better question is: WHAT KIND OF PARENTS WOULD TAKE AWAY THEIR DAUGHTER’S PLAYTHING?
As soon as I’m done with this column, I intend to call child welfare.
If you’re kicking their tires on TNA, here’s what you’re buying: The TV slots and the tape library, and that’s it. Everything else is worthless. If you are lucky (?) enough to get TNA, you’d be well-advised to cut payroll drastically, tape the TV show at one place again – in short, undo all the damage done thus far.
Boy, that’s a lot of damage. Can it possibly be undone? Probably not.
When WCW went on sale in 2000, Fusient Media wanted the company – until TBS and TNT pulled the TV slots. After that, ZERO INTEREST. WWE bought WCW – the tape library and selected contracts – for a cut-rate $5 million.
If WCW is worth only $5 million, what is TNA worth? The tape library doesn’t have one-tenth the cachet of WCW’s. At one time, a lot of people watched WCW. TNA can’t make that claim. TNA DVDs wouldn’t sell. No market beyond, perhaps, the “Greatest Hits” DVD. No one bought TNA then, or buys it now. Why would they change their minds later?
The only logical buyer is Spike. Spike needs programming. Ironically, the first thing Spike would likely do as TNA owner is re-sign Hulk Hogan. “The name.”
I would like to throw my hat in the ring. I am willing to buy TNA.
My offer: One dollar. American. I’ll pay cash.
I’d be doing the Carter family a favor. TNA is a white elephant that leaks money on a daily basis. There is no way back. The brand is too damaged. There’s absolutely no call for a second major wrestling company. Wrestling marks are gone, replaced by the WWE Universe. All the numbers are dropping.
On second thought, I withdraw the offer. Hey, a buck is a buck.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
