TNA issued the following press release yesterday:
TNA Wrestling Launches ‘Cross the Line’ Campaign to Challenge Fans Across the World to Change the Future of Professional Wrestling
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 21 — Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling today officially announced its launch of "Cross The Line," a worldwide marketing campaign to brand TNA as a call to action for fans of professional wrestling.
"Cross The Line" will encourage fans who have never watched TNA to try it, current TNA fans to recruit others, wrestling stars from around the world to cross the line and join TNA, and it’s the official launch of TNA’s revolution to call out the competition. The "Cross The Line" will be supported by a multi-layer advertising and marketing campaign including
electronic and print placements and a variety of interactive initiatives.
During its first-ever live telecast of "TNA iMPACT!" March 27 on Spike TV, TNA premiered "Cross The Line" with a 30-second commercial, a new opening ID tag, and new graphics. Wrestling fans who attended from around the globe became the first to symbolically "Cross The Line" over yellow TNA "caution tape" as they entered into the "iMPACT Zone" at Universal Studios Orlando. "iMPACT" drew capacity crowds for both the live event and two additional shows throughout the weekend, with thousands more fans being turned away.
"TNA iMPACT!" has grown viewership of its original weekly episode airing to 1.5 million viewers on average per week, which more than doubles the original total average viewership from its debut shows on Spike TV in October 2005.
"We have been overwhelmed by the support and passion of TNA fans. Their demand for TNA can’t be silenced, and that energy is what ‘Cross The Line’ is all about. Nothing challenges the establishment of professional wrestling more than the sound of millions of wrestling fans chanting ‘TNA,’" said TNA President Dixie Carter.
"TNA iMPACT!" is now available in over 120 countries worldwide and will debut on major channels in Spain, Australia and Germany in 2008. Beyond television, fans can literally become part of the interactive experience with the "TNA Live!" tour. In just under a year since its launch, "TNA Live!" has toured across the United States, Canada and Japan, with more than 60 dates scheduled for the remainder of 2008 in North America, the United Kingdom and Asia.
Anticipation is building as this summer brings TNA’s biggest licensed product ever with the debut of Midway Games’ "TNA iMPACT!," a next-gen console video game. With more than 25 TNA superstars and the most realistic game play and graphics to date, the video game media have dubbed "iMPACT" the most eagerly awaited pro wrestling game ever. That same buzz is building around TNA action figures, as Jakks Pacific, the worldwide leader in wrestling action figures, shocked the world at ToyFare 2008 by announcing it would produce the exclusive line of TNA action figures for 2010.
Cross the line to TNA Wrestling, the most innovative experience in professional wrestling today. Join Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, "The Icon" Sting, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and the no-limits X-Division inside the six-sided ring of "TNA iMPACT!" every Thursday from 9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT only on Spike TV.
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.