Category: Impact

Impact Parent Company Anthem Purchases Majority Interest In AXS TV, Steve Harvey On Anthem’s Board

Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced today that they have acquired a majority interest in Mark Cuban’s AXS TV and HDNet Movies.

There have been rumors on Anthem purchasing AXS for a few months now, and now those talks have been confirmed.

Longtime comedian and actor Steve Harvey has joined Anthem as an investor and strategic partner through his Steve Harvey Global production company. Harvey now has a seat on the Anthem board.

Anthem, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, will assume daily operations of the two channels. Wrestling promotions New Japan Pro Wrestling and WOW (Women of Wrestling) currently air on AXS.

Stay tuned for updates on Impact Wrestling and their programming moving to AXS.

Below is the full press release from Anthem, which includes comments from Cuban and Harvey:

ANTHEM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT TO PARTNER WITH AXS TV FOUNDER MARK CUBAN; ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN AXS TV AND HDNET MOVIES NETWORKS

AEG REMAINS ACTIVE PARTNERSTEVE HARVEY GLOBAL JOINS ANTHEM AS INVESTOR AND STRATEGIC PARTNER

Deal Expands Anthem’s Reach to Nearly 150 Million Households, Creating a Major New Force in Entertainment, Music and Sports Programming

TORONTO | DALLAS | LOS ANGELES – September 9, 2019 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a global multiplatform media company, today announced it has acquired a majority interest in HDNet LLC, parent of the widely distributed U.S. television networks AXS TV and HDNet Movies, and will assume operating management of the two popular channels that cater to music, sports, entertainment and lifestyle audiences. The deal also includes AXS TV’s extensive library of owned programming, including wrestling, MMA and entertainment content.

The two networks add significantly to Anthem’s rapidly growing portfolio of content, which is currently available in 120 countries and includes diverse and popular sports and entertainment programming targeted to passionate communities with a focus on millennial viewers.

“We are very excited to add these two successful channels to our portfolio,” said Leonard Asper, CEO, Anthem Sports & Entertainment. “Anthem was founded with a mission to deliver compelling, targeted content and experiences to passionate fans globally on the platform of their choice. The music, sports and entertainment communities served by these channels are a natural extension and perfect complement to our existing properties. The addition of AXS TV and HDNet Movies will allow for increased content ownership, digital expansion and even more compelling programming for consumers and our distribution partners.”

Mark Cuban and AEG will continue to participate as equity partners, and AEG Global Partnerships, AEG’s advertising and sponsorship sales unit, will continue to support the channels in conjunction with Anthem’s sales team.

Joining as an investor is entertainer, producer and businessman Steve Harvey, who will also enter into a strategic agreement for content development and promotion of Anthem’s portfolio of channels. Steve Harvey Global will have a seat on the board of directors of Anthem.

Anthem’s board of directors will also include Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, a lead financier on the acquisition; Rick Ehrman, a former senior executive at Univision and NBC Universal; Robert Foster, founder and CEO of Capital Canada; Scott Honour, founding principal of Northern Pacific Group; and Loudon Owen, chairman and CEO of DLT Labs.

“Anthem’s combination of targeted brands, enthusiastic audiences, operational expertise, international footprint and vision makes them an ideal partner to take AXS TV and HDNet Movies to their next levels,” Mark Cuban said. “Given Anthem’s portfolio of premium content and complementary programming networks, we could not ask for a better home, and we are looking forward to the results we will collectively generate for this new partnership.”

“My team and I see great opportunity in Anthem,” Steve Harvey said. “They have incredible shows, experiential entertainment, and a huge reach. We look forward to collaborating with Anthem on content development that will surprise and delight this newly expanded audience.”

AXS TV and HDNet Movies will continue operating from their existing facilities in Denver and Los Angeles, and the combined company will include Anthem’s playout and production center in Toronto and production facilities in Nashville and Europe.

“Anthem Sports & Entertainment brings a legacy of delivering boundary-breaking programming that perfectly aligns with our programming strategy and global concert venue and music festival assets,” said Charles Hirschhorn, President, AEG TV. “The combination of these television networks with Anthem creates global video destinations for ‘must see’ event programming.”

With this transaction, Anthem channels are now estimated to reach nearly 150 million global TV homes, including more than 110 million MVPD-served TV households in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Anthem’s proprietary content is distributed to more than 160 million global TV homes through licensing agreements with some of the world’s premier networks. Anthem’s networks and content also are available on nearly every major streaming service and digital platforms.

Anthem has offices and studios in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville, and in Europe. Its portfolio includes:

* IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in premium content, pay-per-view events, products and merchandise, as well as the management, promotion and training of professional wrestlers;

* IMPACT Plus, a multi-platform mobile app and digital subscription video-on-demand platform and one of the newest additions to the Anthem family of services, featuring live monthly premium network specials, instant access to the 3,000-plus hour IMPACT Wrestling library, groundbreaking original series, reality shows, documentaries, and exclusive events from international partners;

* Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel, dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports including fights, fight news and the fight lifestyle as well as mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts and more. Fight Network produces and owns its own library of fight themed documentaries and interview programs and is delivered to more than 43 million TV homes in the U.S., Canada and more than 15 other countries;

* GameTV, featuring game show formats and programming, both current and past; reality, drama and documentary series; feature films; sports-based games including esports, poker, and card-based games; and live sporting events – all delivered to more than 8 million television homes throughout Canada. GameTV also features online cash and social gaming through igamestv.com;

* Game+, a cutting edge, millennial-targeted sports and entertainment channel, featuring sports-wagering programs, esports events, news and information, fantasy sports programming, high stakes poker, and other action-driven shows and lifestyle programming. Game+ is distributed in more than 1 million MVPD TV homes in Canada and the US; and

* Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S, offering outdoor enthusiasts diverse programming from calm freshwater fishing to fast-paced deer and waterfowl hunting. Pursuit Channel is available to more than 35 million TV homes in the US served by cable, satellite and IPTV. Through its app PursuitUP the channel is also available on OTT streaming services.

AXS TV is a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle channel, including live concerts and sports events, originally founded as HDNET by Mark Cuban in 2001. The channel was rebranded in 2012 after partnering with AEG, leading to additional music content development. The network’s current programming lineup features live concerts and events, music-themed information and reality programming, live wrestling and MMA, and off-network runs of popular music-themed programming. The network is distributed to more than 50 million homes.

AEG includes AXS TV as part of its own sponsorship portfolio, bringing many AEG partners to the network.

HDNet Movies, available in approximately 12 million U.S. homes, features theatrically released films and documentaries presented in high definition, including a variety of iconic classics and award winners spanning the 1950s to 2000s.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Preview 9/6/19

Tonight on Impact airing on Pursuit and Twitch:

* The Future of the World Title – Brian Cage has been working incredibly hard to get back in fighting condition. However, Sami Callihan has become increasingly more frustrated and wants to know when he will be getting his World Title match.

* Madman Fulton vs. RVD

* Moose vs. Fallah Bahh

* Impact World Tag Team Titles vs. Careers: (C) The North vs. LAX

Latest Update On Killer Kross-Impact Contract Situation, Kross Hires An Attorney

It was recently reported that Killer Kross was considering hiring a lawyer to deal with his contractual standoff with Impact Wrestling. According to PWInsider, Kross has indeed hired an attorney who is handling all of the communication between Kross and Impact.

Kross and Impact have been at a standstill regarding his existing contract since May. It was then when he requested his release as he believes he is worth more than what Impact is paying him but Kross maintained his professionalism and continued working for the promotion. Per PWInsider, Impact recently offered Kross a new three-year contract worth $40,000, $60,000 and $80,000 over the life of the deal.

A source says that those numbers are outdated and the final figures were much higher, but either way, Kross declined and is still on his existing contract which has 18 months remaining on it.

Kross is not booked for this weekend’s Impact tapings and his last appearance for the promotion came at Slammiversay on July 7. Adding to the complexity of Kross’ issues with Impact was that he participated in a First Blood match at the event, however Kross, who took the loss, did not want to blade for the match. That prompted Impact to secure fake blood hours before the event to which Kross agreed to use during the defeat.

Kross was also upset that there were no doctor on hand for Slammiversary considering that he was involved in such a match which required blood. Impact conceded that no doctors were present but there were emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the facility.

Impact is holding tapings on Sep. 5-6 from Las Vegas which also happens to be where Killer Kross lives. But despite the tapings practically taking part in his back yard, Kross will not be present and there is still no timetable for when or if he will return to the ring with Impact Wrestling.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Reportedly Pulling Killer Kross From Upcoming Event Due To Concerns Of Lawsuit

When Impact fans last saw Killer Kross, he was defeated by Eddie Edwards in a First Blood Match at Slammiversary XVII. Kross had a kendo stick jammed into his mouth during the match which resulted in blood and the loss, however, it turns out it was not his blood.

According to PWInsider, Kross refused to blade during the match because there was no outside medical personnel in attendance. Impact was forced to track down fake blood hours before the show to book the match and the finish as planned.

Kross hasn’t been booked since then and Impact is reportedly planning to remove him from their September 15 AAA event in New York amid concerns that Kross will soon be suing Impact.

Kross’ problems with the promotion precede Slammiversary as he’s been in a contract standoff with Impact for months. He doesn’t feel as though he’s being compensated fairly and he made that clear during a July interview on Wrestling Inc.’s  WINCLY podcast.

“I don’t have anything disparaging to say about the company and I made that clear,” Kross said. “The bottom line is that I’m a human being. Killer Kross might not be a human being but I am. The guy behind the glass coat is and personal circumstances change in life. I felt I was contributing to a greater degree than I was being compensated and I tried to find a common ground with them but we weren’t able to find one. But I’m a professional through and through.”

“My status with them: hard to say. But I’m going out there and giving everybody my best,” Kross said before adding that he should’t say anything about getting a better deal from Impact because “hypothetically they could use it against me.”

Kross also noted that he would like to stay with Impact if everything can be worked out but it’s of best interest to him and his family to be compensated what he feels that he’s worth.

Kross does have the ability to wrestle for independents and he did just that recently. On September 1 he defeated Tom Lawlor at a Warrior Wrestling event which was highlighted by Impact and Warrior Wrestling World Champion Brian Cage defeating Michael Elgin.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Preview 8/30/19

Tonight on Impact on Pursuit and Twitch.

* Falls Count Anywhere Match: Michael Elgin vs. Rhino

* Ken Shamrock responds to Moose

* Trey vs. TJP vs. Taurus vs. Golden Magic

* Taya Valkyrie’s last title defense before BREAKING THE RECORD

Rey Mysterio, Impact World Champion Brian Cage And Melissa Santos Visits Columbia For Stem Cell Therapy (Photos)

Rey Mysterio, Impact World Champion Brian Cage and Melissa Santos were in Medellin, Colombia for a medical tourism trip.

Mysterio, Cage and Santos received stem cell treatment at the BioXcellerator facility in Medellin. During the trip, the wrestling stars also went paragliding.

Mysterio last appeared on RAW two weeks ago and teased retirement before his son, Dominick, talked him out of it. Mysterio is slated to return to RAW this Monday.

You can see photos from the trip below.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling To Start Covering Hotel Costs For The Roster

Impact Wrestling is now picking up the bill for hotel costs while talents are on the road, according to PWInsider.

Impact officials told talents back in May that they were working on covering hotel costs as a way to give back to the locker room, by absorbing some of the financial burden of being on the road.

Impact recently covered hotel costs for talents while they were in Mexico, but talents were still paying for their own hotels for shows in the United States and Canada. That is about to change as hotels will be covered moving forward, beginning with next week’s Impact TV tapings in Las Vegas.

It was noted that all signs point to this being a new, consistent road policy for Impact.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ken Shamrock Returning To Impact Wrestling

UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock is coming to Impact Wrestling next week for the September 5 and 6 Las Vegas tapings. He’s returning to Impact because of his social media feud with Impact star Moose. Shamrock hasn’t been in Impact (then TNA) since 2004.

Shamrock shared the news on Twitter, writing, “Moose #noballs huh? Well according to your #bosses I’ll see you in Vegas! @impactwrestling It’s #moose #hunting season and The Worlds Most Dangerous Man has his next #victim.”

The feud started after Impact World Champion Brian Cage and Ken Shamrock were talking about a match. Moose responded to their conversation, “SO YOU HAVE DEFENDED THE IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ONCE IN THREE MONTHS AND YOU WANNA HAVE A PLAYFIGHT WITH SHAMROCK???? I GUESS YOU GUYS BOTH FIGHT ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS SO…….WHAT A PATHETIC JOKE YOU ARE BRIAN.”

At one point in their feud, Moose tweeted, “MMA is Trash……I’m more of a boxing guy….. Boxers are real Athletes.” Even Tommy Dreamer jumped in. Dreamer tweeted at Moose, “Social media in 2019. People trash talking. Don’t know if I would talk sh*t about @ShamrockKen great dude Amazing fight legend @TheMooseNation say u were hacked, put the phone down or just have some respect Plz.”

While in Impact, Ken Shamrock won the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a gauntlet match on June 19, 2002. Months later Shamrock lost the title and left the company, but in 2004, he briefly returned.

Ken Shamrock returned to pro wrestling in November 2018.

Below are tweets from their feud:

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1163978521104068610

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164017247515566080

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164222493835636736

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164374347777224705

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164534056052240384

https://twitter.com/TheMooseNation/status/1164619380568842242

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tonight’s Impact Wrestling Airing As Pilot For Potential Studio-Style Series, Preview 8/23/19

Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling was designed to be a backdoor pilot for a potential studio-style TV show from the company, according to PWInsider.

The potential studio show has been talked about as a secondary series if and when the main Impact series finds a new home on cable.

Tonight’s show, titled Cali Combat, was filmed at the Championship Wrestling From Hollywood venue, the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme, CA.

The following matches have been announced for tonight’s Impact on Pursuit and Twitch:

* Michael Elgin vs. Rhino
* Sami Callihan vs. Tommy Dreamer in a No DQ match
* Reno Scum vs. Impact Tag Team Champions The North
* Rich Swann vs. X Division Champion Jake Crist

Impact Wrestling Preview 8/16/19

Tonight’s Impact on Pursuit Channel and Twitch.

* Sammi Callihan & Dave Crist vs. Tommy Dreamer & Tessa Blanchard

* Rich Swann, Willie Mack & RVD vs. The Rascalz

* Madison Rayne & Kiera Hogan vs. Jordynne Grace & Alexia Nicole

* Moose vs. Fallah Bahh

* Desi Hit Squad vs. The Deaners