Spike's TNA Wrestling Special Draws 2.2 Million Viewers

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Spike TV's TNA Impact! pro wrestling show set a viewership record during last night's three-hour special featuring Hulk Hogan, but failed to pin down more viewers than pro wrestling rival WWE's Monday Night Raw series.
TNA Impact! drew 2.2 million viewers for its Jan. 4 special featuring the ring return of former WWE star Hogan, easily outdistancing the former high mark of 1.9 million viewers the series set in April 2008, according to Spike TV officials. The first hour of the special averaged 2.5 million viewers, according to Spike.
TNA Impact! however was no match for USA Network's popular WWE Monday Night Raw series. Raw drew an average of 5.5 million viewers from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., well above the 2 million viewers the TNA Impact! special averaged during the same time period on Spike, according to Nielsen data.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.