Dixie Carter resigns as chairman

[Will]

For Immediate Release – January 4, 2017

Anthem Sports & Entertainment Forms Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC., Acquires Control of IMPACT Wrestling

Toronto, Canada (January 4, 2017) – Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in TNA IMPACT Wrestling, and has formed Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC. Anthem also owns Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, which is IMPACT Wrestling’s exclusive broadcast partner in Canada and worldwide digital partner.

“We are thrilled to have acquired TNA IMPACT Wrestling,” said Ed Nordholm, Executive Vice President of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., the parent of Fight Network. “As we grow Anthem’s linear, digital and mobile platforms globally, top tier content with global appeal is key to that success and this acquisition is a perfect strategic addition to our portfolio. IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand around the world for more than a decade and we are confident that Anthem can leverage its assets and strategic partnerships to take IMPACT Wrestling to even greater heights.”

Mr. Nordholm, who has been the managing director of the IMPACT Ventures Board of Managers since October 2016, will assume the position of President of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC. Dixie Carter will resign from her position as Chairman of Impact Ventures and join the Advisory Board of Fight Media Group, which holds all of the combat sports-related assets of Anthem, where her focus will be on the global growth of the combat sports-related brands owned by Anthem.

“Anthem has been a great partner for many years,” added Dixie Carter. “We have worked hard to find the right company who would acquire TNA, use its strategic influence and have a long-term commitment to the brand. TNA’s incredible fans, talent and staff deserved to see the brand continue to thrive after 15+ years of incredible growth. I’m excited to move to a new position and work with Anthem on their global strategic plan, and I am confident TNA IMPACT Wrestling is going to be a huge part of their success.”

Ms. Carter will remain a minority equity stakeholder.

For More Information, Contact:
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp.
Ariel Shnerer
Director, Programming & Communications
[e-mail]

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. is a global sports media company and a leader in operating targeted specialty video channels on linear, digital and mobile platforms with offices and studios in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Anthem’s portfolio includes Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel now broadcasting in the U.S., Canada and over 30 other countries, Fantasy Sports Network (FNTSY), the world’s first and only channel dedicated to fantasy sports, GameTV, a Canadian specialty channel available in over 9 million homes, RotoExperts.com, a leader in fantasy sports news and analysis, DailyRoto.com, the most comprehensive and far-reaching daily fantasy sports website and Edge Sport, an extreme and action sports network recently launched in Canada in partnership with IMG. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. available in over 40 million homes, and it owns SportsGrid.com, a leader in general sports entertainment commentary.

About TNA IMPACT Wrestling
TNA IMPACT Wrestling specializes in television properties, events, products, merchandise and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The roster features such greats as Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, EC3, Bobby Lashley, Drew Galloway, James Storm, the high-flying X-Division, Gail Kim and the lovely and lethal Knockouts. Its highly successful flagship, IMPACT WRESTLING, broadcasts in more than 120 countries around the world, including Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Pop, a joint venture of CBS Corporation and Lionsgate, in the United States and on Fight Network in Canada.

[Sizzle]

Holy shit. It happened.

Now Anthem is in power. Wow. As a fan, I can only hope for the best.

[XHW]

can they turn this thing around? only time will tell I suppose

[motleyspoisongun]

I legit lol'd at "IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand"

[punksnotdead]

Good. Start 2017 fresh. New era, new direction, and a chance to actually get a clean slate, at least of sorts. They over exhausted how far they could go with Dixie. It was a move like this or the company was done. I think this is a big positive for them and it should invigorate everyone in that locker room.

If nothing else, at least they have stability for the first time since Dixie's daddy took the checkbook away.

[IRS]

That obsolete mule, Sister Carter, has been DELETED!

[King Bálor (CM)™]

Anything that improves wrestling is a good thing.

[K5]

they might have a long way to go, but this was without question the first major step that needed to be taken. i became a tna fan 15 years ago and it would be great to find interest in the company again.

[~ Cymru ~]

Jan 4, 2017 22:56:05 GMT -5 motleyspoisongun said:

I legit lol'd at "IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand"

Yeeeah, other than THE dominant brand (WWE) TNA is the only brand left to compete with.
Yeah there's evolve and ROH but they dont have TV deals or anything that I'm aware of. So in hind sight they ARE a dominant force cause they're beating all the other smaller companies.

So happy to hear Dixie has stepped down, should have happened a long time ago, gotta wonder though is the damage done. I've only been watching TNA on occasion for the Hardy's. The whole angle has spread across the internet, and into WWE arena's with the delete chant, they're easily the best thing going in TNA right now, I feel if WWE really wanted to cut the jugular of TNA they'd only have to pick up the Hardys again.

[The Dude]

www.pwinsider.com/article/106913/the-deal-is-done-tna-behind-the-scenes-update.html?p=1

Jeff Jarrett's gonna return to TNA, hopefully he can restore it to glory. I miss the 2004 - 2007 era, that was when they were in their prime.

[powerfred3k]

Oh great Dixie is gone, the company is still losing money hand over fist. How exactly are they going to turn it around ??

The only way this company becomes profitable is putting the show on a TV channel people have actually heard of and have.

[IRS]

Jan 5, 2017 10:13:45 GMT -5 ~ Cymru ~ said:

Jan 4, 2017 22:56:05 GMT -5 motleyspoisongun said:

I legit lol'd at "IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand"

Yeeeah, other than THE dominant brand (WWE) TNA is the only brand left to compete with.
Yeah there's evolve and ROH but they dont have TV deals or anything that I'm aware of. So in hind sight they ARE a dominant force cause they're beating all the other smaller companies.

So happy to hear Dixie has stepped down, should have happened a long time ago, gotta wonder though is the damage done. I've only been watching TNA on occasion for the Hardy's. The whole angle has spread across the internet, and into WWE arena's with the delete chant, they're easily the best thing going in TNA right now, I feel if WWE really wanted to cut the jugular of TNA they'd only have to pick up the Hardys again.

ROH has a TV deal, which I believe reaches more homes than TNA currently. They're also capable of actually getting paying fans into an arena, so I think you could make a very strong case for them being #2 over TNA.

[Deleted]

When something good involving Dixie Carter finally happens

[~ Cymru ~]

Jan 5, 2017 14:42:29 GMT -5 IRS said:

Jan 5, 2017 10:13:45 GMT -5 ~ Cymru ~ said:

Yeeeah, other than THE dominant brand (WWE) TNA is the only brand left to compete with.
Yeah there's evolve and ROH but they dont have TV deals or anything that I'm aware of. So in hind sight they ARE a dominant force cause they're beating all the other smaller companies.

So happy to hear Dixie has stepped down, should have happened a long time ago, gotta wonder though is the damage done. I've only been watching TNA on occasion for the Hardy's. The whole angle has spread across the internet, and into WWE arena's with the delete chant, they're easily the best thing going in TNA right now, I feel if WWE really wanted to cut the jugular of TNA they'd only have to pick up the Hardys again.

ROH has a TV deal, which I believe reaches more homes than TNA currently. They're also capable of actually getting paying fans into an arena, so I think you could make a very strong case for them being #2 over TNA.

I never knew that, we don't don't get ROH over here we've had TNA for a good while although I think challenge has axed them now.

[JC Motors]

It's about damn time

[greenjack1992]

[Nivro™]

Anyone know what kind of ratings the NJPW show gets compared to TNA? I know their shows are like a year old but with NJPW easily being the #2 company in the world...Im curious where they rank on American TV.

[Sizzle]

Immediate impact felt. Anthem logos decorate the middle turnbuckles in the six sided ring.

[@brit_figs]

Interested to see what happens now

[theMOESIAH]

Has anyone seen the new Impact logo? ing atrocious.

I really don't understand why Dixie felt the need to screw Billy Corgan on her way out. He should have taken over the company.