TNA Impact Wrestling enters new television agreement with Destination America

For months, the future of TNA Impact Wrestling looked bleak, but for the first time in a long time, the Tennessee-based promotion announced some positive news.

TNA Impact Wrestling announced Wednesday that beginning in January it will air its weekly flagship show on Destination America, which is a member of the Discovery Communications family. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Destination America is one of cable's top five fastest-growing networks, according to a press release on TNA's website. Among the programs that air on the network are Mountain Monsters, A Haunting, Hillbilly Blood, Buying the Bayou, Buying Alaska, Ghost Asylum and BBQ Pitmasters.

"Our partnership in this uniquely entertaining franchise with TNA Impact Wrestling provides a significant addition to Destination America's programming strategy," said Henry Schleiff, Group President of Destination America in a statement. "The enduring, cross-generational enthusiasm of pro wrestling is felt by millions of fans around the country, from coast-to-coast and throughout the heartland. We are delighted to bring this beloved American pastime to the one and only network dedicated to celebrating the unique spirit of the U.S., Destination America."

"Our knockout partnership with TNA Impact Wrestling continues Destination America's mission of brining our viewers the best of all-American entertainment, and going center ring with one of the world's foremost professional wrestling leagues fits perfectly within our DNA," said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America in a statement. "Wrestling has created a fiercely loyal, passionate and widespread fan base, and we look forward to being part of the TNA family.

News broke back in July that TNA Impact Wrestling's current television partner, Spike TV, would not renew their agreement, which expires at the end of the year. TNA has aired a weekly program on Spike TV since 2005, starting with one hour every week before expanding to two hours.

TNA has continued to air its weekly show on Spike TV throughout the year, with its final first-run show on Spike TV scheduled to air Wednesday night.

Despite Carter saying that negotiations of a new television deal were ongoing, the lack of live events from the promotion was not a welcome sign for the long-term future for the promotion.

In seemingly the 11th hour, the often-tenuous future of the promotion seems to have been temporarily revived.

"We are very excited about Destination America being the new network for Impact Wrestling and the partnership with Discovery Communications both domestically and across the globe," said TNA President Dixie Carter in a statement. "Their commitment to promote and grow our brand in innovative and compelling ways was instrumental in knowing we had found the right home. Together we will create an experience that takes our fans on a new journey that will push the envelope of technology, including where we take cameras, going deeper into our superstars' lives and showing the reality of what it takes to create a weekly professional wrestling show, all while showcasing the very best male and female athletes in the world."