SONY SIX – India’s Premier Sports Entertainment Channel acquires broadcasting rights to TNA Wrestling’s full catalog of programming

The channel will exclusively air more than 500 hours of wrestling content across key Asian markets

Mumbai, July 2013: Further expanding its bouquet of international sporting events, SONY SIX, India’s premier sports entertainment channel, has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling across the Indian Sub-continent.

SONY SIX will now air all of the best TNA Wrestling programming every week including IMPACT WRESTLING, Xplosion, Greatest Matches and Unfinished Business, along with four episodic Pay Per View programs and eight One Night Only specials throughout the year.

TNA Wrestling is one of the leading brands in the world of sports and entertainment, providing high excitement action across the globe. TNA is the home of ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan, ‘The Icon’ Sting, ‘The Charismatic Enigma’ Jeff Hardy, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Bully Ray, Magnus, AJ Styles, Gail Kim, TNA Knockouts Champion Mickie James and TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin.

This acquisition strengthens the diverse sports offering by SONY SIX further.

On acquiring the rights, Mr. Man Jit Singh CEO, MSM said, “Wrestling is considered one of the ancient sports in the world and India with Kushti has a storied tradition in wrestling. India’s recent success in International Wrestling has attracted the youth in India and also captured the imagination and interest of audiences across the country. Given this national interest in the sport, we are proud to have acquired TNA Wrestling as one of our premium international sporting events. TNA Wrestling has garnered immense viewership internationally and we believe this association further reiterates SONY SIX’s commitment to airing high impact alternative sports in India.”

Commenting on this new initiative Mr. N P Singh COO, MSM added, “SONY SIX will now offer fans more than 500 hours of exciting original wrestling content every year. TNA Wrestling is a global phenomenon, producing exclusive entertainment for more than 5 million viewers in 14 languages each week and seen in more than 120 countries across the world. We at SONY SIX look forward to building on this fascinating sport in the years to come”

Speaking about the partnership with SONY SIX, TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter said, “Everyone at TNA is thrilled at this exciting venture with SONY SIX that will open up new horizons across all of India. The Indian Sub-continent is home to some of the most passionate and dedicated wrestling fans on the planet – and they now have more than 500 hours of the very best in professional wrestling to enjoy. SONY SIX is the perfect partner for us, thanks to their impressive and diverse range of sporting events, and we can’t wait to debut.”

With Mixed Martial Arts and now wrestling introduced into the bouquet of international sports content, SONY SIX will truly broadcast the best of both worlds by providing the finest action packed holistic entertainment programs for the audiences.

TNA Wrestling is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee that specializes in events, products, numerous TV properties, merchandise and music, as well as, the management and promotion of professional wrestlers.

TNA produces numerous weekly TV programs, monthly PPV events and more than 100 live shows a year. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in more than 120 countries. The events see the company’s biggest stars perform for the sport’s most passionate audiences. Annual mainstays like March’s “Lockdown,” June’s “Slammiversary” and October’s “Bound for Glory” anchor the lineup, but each show delivers the best TNA has to offer.

Sony SIX, India’s Premier Sports Entertainment Channel is owned and operated by MSM India. The company is well known to exclusively broadcast some of the world’s largest as well as renowned international sporting properties like The Pepsi IPL, UEFA EURO 2016, Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016, Qualifiers for 2014 & 2018 FIFA World Cup, Scottish Professional Football League, The NBA and The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Since its inception, the channel has successfully managed to target the youth of India through a mix of sports and entertainment.

This match was definitely PPV quality.

The Main Event Mafia came to the ring. Sting talked about how last week Chris Sabin beat Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Sting said Aces & Eights this war we got going on I got to say Main Event Mafia wins battle number one. Kurt Angle said Aces & Eights the pain you caused for the past 12 months is going to come back to you 10 folds, it’s only a matter of time. Angle said we aren’t here tonight for a fight we’re here for a celebration. Angle said the Main Event Mafia was formed for 2 reasons to destroy Aces & Eights & to make sure Bully Ray loses the World Heavyweight Title & the second was accomplished last week. Angle introduced to the ring the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin. Sabin thanked the Main Event Mafia for their help in fighting off the Aces & Eights. Sabin said it feels like he is living a dream but it isn’t a dream it’s reality & now he is walking around with a target on his back because he has what everyone wants. Sabin said Samoa Joe I know it’s what you want & Magnus I know it’s what you want, it’s what everyone in the BFGS wants. Sabin said he made history last week & he will make history next week. Sabin made a challenge to whoever wins the Ultimate X match. Bully Ray came out along with his attorney. Bully’s attorney said because of the huge injustice Bully suffered they have been forced to file a lawsuit against Impact Wrestling. He said the issue can be solved if Sabin hands over the Title back to Bully, if not the ramifications are going to go through the wrestling industry & he will crush Impact Wrestling. He said I fight for my client, I win for my client & I win well. He said Sabin has until the end of the show to bring the Title to the true champ.

Backstage Hulk Hogan was asked if TNA has a legal position yet & if he has responded to Bully Ray. Hogan said he doesn’t comment on pending litigations.

X-Division Championship Ultimate X Match: Sonjay Dutt vs Manik vs Greg Marasciulo: Manik got the win to become the new X-Division Champion.

Bully Ray talked to Mr. Anderson backstage. Bully said did you see Hogan squirming, for the first time in a long time Hogan just doesn’t know what to do. Bully said we got him right where we want him. Bully told Anderson that he is proud that Anderson is VP of this club. Bully said  I know that I didn’t vote but if I did I was voting for you. Bully said being VP is important but what’s more important is the BFGS & Aces & Eights Anderson winning the BFGS. Bully told Anderson to go out there & do what he does best & get the job done.

BFGS Match: Hernandez vs Mr. Anderson: Anderson got the win & picked up 7 points.

Backstage Dixie Carter was asked for her take on the Bully Ray situation. Dixie said we don’t have time for this you will know when I know.

Backstage Eric Young showed a video to Joseph Park of what happened when he saw his own blood & snapped in  his match with Jeff Hardy. Park said he has no recollection of that, he blacked out it’s a complete blur & that it wasn’t him. EY said he is going to help Park out & he is going to get to the bottom of this.

Velvet Sky came to the ring & said she made a mistake & no it wasn’t wrestling with an injury, it was letting Mickie James know she was injured. Velvet said it was her fault for trusting Mickie & Mickie took advantage of her situation. Velvet said she wont make a mistake like that again. Velvet said she is playing things closer to her vest than ever before. Velvet said tonight she gets a ringside seat to watch Mickie & Gail Kim tear into each other. Velvet said so ladies have at it & went to a seat placed at ringside.

Knockouts Championship Match: Gail Kim vs Knockouts Champ Mickie James: Gail slapped referee ODB & Mickie took advantage of the distraction & rolled up Gail for the win. After the match ODB grabbed Gail preventing her from leaving the ring & they argued. Brooke Hogan came out & said she has an issue with Gail & she can’t believe what she is seeing now. Brooke said slapping around another ref, I thought you learned your lesson last time. Brooke said maybe you will learn your lesson this time & reminded Gail that ODB is an active wrestler. ODB took off her referee shirt & motioned for Gail to come & fight but Gail left the ring.

Backstage Hogan & Dixie Carter talked about what to do. It seemed like they decided to give the World Heavyweight Championship back to Bully.

BFGS Match: Daniels vs Samoa Joe: Anderson came to the ring & distracted Joe. Daniels took advantage & got the win to pick up 7 points.

Backstage Sting talked to Kurt Angle. Sting said there is some big stuff going on right now & we got to be on the same page. They talked about the legal situation with Bully Ray. Sting said Bully has nothing. Angle said what if Bully gets it. Sting said we know Bully can be beat we proved that last week. They said when he is alone he is vulnerable. Sting said we got to make sure it stays that way. Angle said what about out ultimate goal we tried last week & we failed. Sting said we didn’t fail we got a lot happening in our favor right now. Sting said we are the Main Event Mafia, the goal is still the same get rid of Aces & Eights, take Bull out.

BFGS Match: AJ Styles vs Jeff Hardy: AJ won by submission with the Calf Killer to pick up 10 points. After the match Hardy extended his hand to AJ for a handshake but AJ refused & walked away.

Backstage Hogan was asked if he has made a decision. Hogan said thank God Dixie & I are on the same page, I don’t want to do this but I have to do what needs to be done, so I’m going to do it.

Bully Ray came to the ring & said he has been wronged & he has suffered a major injustice. Bully said he is highly offended that everybody in the wrestling world can just sit back & praise Chris Sabin for what he did to him. Bully said he hit me in the head with a hammer. Bully said what kind of man, what kind of athlete, what kind of wrestler would ever sink to such levels to hit somebody else in the head with a deadly object like a hammer. Bully said Sabin you have no choice I will sue you, I will sue everybody in this company. Bully said he will do whatever it takes to right the wrong that has been bestowed upon him. Bully  said he wants Sabin to do the right thing & walk out here & hand the World Heavyweight Title to him. Sabin came to the ring. Bully said he isn’t going to say anything negative towards Sabin. Bully said obviously you’re out here to do the right, obviously you’re out here because I told you to come out here & because you’re highly intimidated by me, obviously you’re going to do the right thing & hand me my World Heavyweight Title. Sabin said the real reason he is out here is because he wanted to see with his own eyes what a big fat crybaby Bully has become. Sabin said you’re no longer the World Champion but I almost had my entire career taken away. Sabin said for 2 years he sat at home but he didn’t whine & complain like Bully. Sabin said it motivated & inspired him to work harder to get back to this ring & now he is the World Heavyweight Champion. Sabin said the only way you’re getting this belt from me is if you pry it from my dead hands. Bully said no I’m going to get it back by suing you, look what you have done to me how dare you hit me over the head with a hammer how can you call yourself a man. Bully said if you’re not going to do the right thing I demand Hulk Hogan come out here & give me back my Title or I’m suing. Hogan came out with a piece of paper in his hand. Hogan said he has been going back & forth all day with his lawyers looking at this contract inside out, upside down, from top to bottom. Hogan said at the end of the day I get it & I have a counter for you my brother. Bully pointed to Sabin & said you see. Hogan said this counter comes with no negotiations, Hogan tore up the piece of paper. Bully said you can’t do that. Hogan said I can do that because I’m your General Manager whether you like it or not, I’m the law around here brother. Hogan said Chris Sabin is our Champion & still the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Hogan said fair is fair & per your contract you do have a rematch clause. Hogan said Bully will get his rematch on August 15th at Hardcore Justice. Hogan said the Aces & Eights wont be involved & the Main Event Mafia wont be involved  because it will be a steal cage match.

Hardcore Justice will be live on Spike TV August 15th.