NHL TV deal going to TBS/TNT...potentially effecting NXT & AEW

[THE 101]

Despite WWE President Nick Khan insisting otherwise, it’s been rumored that NXT’s permanent move to Tuesday night was primarily driven by NBC’s relationship with the NHL. With yesterday’s reports of Turner Sports and the NHL agreeing to a seven year deal, it looks like the WWE executive was right on the money when he guessed that NBC will no longer be in business with the NHL.

Just like that, the tables have been flipped, with AEW Dynamite now potentially facing a forced move from Wednesday to a different night of the week as a result of the NHL deal with Turner. Pro wrestling always does love a good swerve, so this story fits right in.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted the early indications are that AEW won’t be affected, but that’s far from certain:

“The big [NHL] game of the week had been a Wednesday television game, and what does that mean with AEW? If [the NHL is] on TBS, it doesn’t mean anything. If TNT wants it, that gets really tricky...The early things that I have been told is that this will not affect AEW, that AEW will stay in its time slot, and [the NHL will] probably end up on TBS or a different night. I mean they could go Monday or Friday. Tuesday / Thursday is NBA, so those days are off.

And for TNT to move AEW, if that were to happen, I mean the problem is...your choices would be Monday night or Friday night. And probably Friday night, because Tony Khan was pretty adamant about not running on Monday night because he doesn’t want to go against the NFL...Friday would be going head to head with Smackdown which would not be a good idea because then you’re back to splitting the audience and you’re also on a much weaker channel...FOX is a lot more powerful than TNT so that would be a bigger disadvantage. That one would hurt in the ratings, and also the fact that Smackdown’s a stronger show to the average person than NXT would be.”

The main idea is that the NHL could end up on TBS or TNT. If the NHL lands on TBS then there is no scheduling conflict for their big Wednesday game of the week, because AEW Dynamite airs on TNT.

But if the NHL is broadcast on TNT, then either AEW Dynamite or the NHL game of the week will have to move from Wednesday to Monday or Friday. Tony Khan’s family owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He has made it clear that he will not compete against the NFL, so that doesn’t seem to leave much of a choice for AEW in the scenario where Dynamite is forced off Wednesdays.

How do you see Turner Sports sorting out this potential scheduling problem between AEW and the NHL?

 

[TRIPLE M]

TNT is going to end up moving AEW to 6:05 on Saturday’s during NHL season

 

[Mook]

Hard to really see right now which one is more in the toilet, aew or nhl.

 

[Brad Piff]

 

[Tres Leches]

tony need to reconsider and move it to mondays perfect time to strike raw is right now




or nhl goes to tbs and nothing changes

 

[jackswstd]

If AEW keeps averaging a million they’re not going anywhere.

 

[Reality Check]

tony need to reconsider and move it to mondays perfect time to strike raw is right now

Never going to happen as long as his family owns the Jags

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Hard to really see right now which one is more in the toilet, aew or nhl.

I'll guarantee you once NHL hits TNT, the bag is more secure than the dub. No stannery involved because its the cold facts

 

[THE 101]

 

[Max.]

Hahhahahqhah

 

[Jmare007]

If AEW keeps averaging a million they’re not going anywhere.

Yeah, why would they get bumped? I don't follow ratings but if they are doing 1 million then it makes no sense to move them.

 

[AKM-95]

Yeah, why would they get bumped? I don't follow ratings but if they are doing 1 million then it makes no sense to move them.

My guess is the difference in perception of the fanbases and marketing dollars between wrasslin and hockey is still miles apart. Pro wrestling is still thought of as niche tv product.

Alot of executives still see the average wrestling fan as the dirt poor fan or the typical 35+ dude that still lives with their parents. While hockey still has prestige as a top 4 sports league in north america.

 

[Chris Cool]

Send aew to tbs.

 

[mannyrs13]

Likely won't be until next season right? Should give everyone time to make a decision. Fridays are their best bet with mnf and raw on Monday even tho raw isn't much competition these days. But don't know if Fridays is a good night for ratings either especially as things start opening up more and purple start going out more. Who knows. Whatever time or channel they come on, people will watch eventually.

 

[The Solid One]

If AEW keeps averaging a million they’re not going anywhere.

Yeah, why would they get bumped? I don't follow ratings but if they are doing 1 million then it makes no sense to move them.