ESPN STAR Sports powers up wrestling action for fans in South Asia with TNA Wrestling
ESS renews broadcast partnership and acquires exclusive rights.
August 14, 2008 (Nashville, TN): Asia’s leading sports broadcaster, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) today announced a new long-term contract for the exclusive right to broadcast TNA Wrestling across various platforms, including television, mobile and internet. The contract provides ESS broadcast rights across the Indian subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives.
.
.
For the first time, wrestling fans in South Asia will now be able to engage with and experience the action in a unique manner. Starting this year, ESPN STAR Sports and TNA plan to bring leading TNA Wrestlers to the subcontinent every year on promotional tours, giving fans a chance to see them in action up-close. Fans will also be able to get real close to the action through special consumer contests run by ESS and TNA, where winners will be flown to Universal Studios, Orlando, to watch their favorite wrestlers live in action.
Mr. Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said: “We are delighted to further extend our partnership with TNA Wrestling. Through our entertaining programming and innovative promotional efforts we continue to build TNA Wrestling in the Indian Subcontinent and with this new contract we are bringing in many more interactive and engaging opportunities for wrestling fans in South Asia. We are confident that fans will fully enjoy this unique experience.”
Dixie Carter, President, TNA, said: “Outside the United States, India is arguably the most important country in the world for televised wrestling, and we are extremely excited to continue bringing TNA’s unique form of entertainment to our fans throughout the Indian Subcontinent. TNA has a great partner with ESPN STAR Sports, and we are determined to build the biggest wrestling brand in India. TNA is committed to growing the brand worldwide, and this agreement is an important step forward for TNA within the international marketplace.”
In the past six months, TNA Wrestling has signed or extended deals with Bravo in the United Kingdom, Fox8 in Australia, BT Vision in the United Kingdom, Main Event in Australia, Sport TV in Portugal, Premiere in Germany, and Antena Neox in Spain.
Cross The Line to TNA Wrestling, the most innovative experience in professional wrestling today. Join the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, “The Icon” Sting, Booker T, “The Instant Classic” Christian Cage, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, the lovely and lethal TNA Knockouts and the no-limits X-Division inside the six-sided ring of “TNA iMPACT!” every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV.
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.
Spike TV is available in over 96 million homes and is a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
Cross The Line at www.tnawrestling.com