Pop TV boss talks Impact wrestling, Dixie Carter & more

Brad Schwartz brining in TNA to Pop TV

- In a recent interview with Miami Herald, Pop TV President Brad Schwartz spoke on a number of things pertaining to TNA Impact wrestling coming on to the network and more.

As has been reported, TNA will be finishing out their term with Destination America and heading over to the Pop TV network in early 2016. Below are highlights from the chat:

How did the TNA – Pop TV association come about?

Schwartz spoke about how TNA had over a million eyeballs, when on Spike TV, and were very successful with the viewers. Following their departure from Spike, when they moved to Destination America, the popularity took a bit of a hit, as DA didn’t have the distribution that Spike did.

“So [TNA was] actively looking for a new television partner, and I think made the rounds and met with a lot of cable networks to see where a home might be. We were on their list of calls, and they came in [about a couple of months ago], and we had our entire team meet with them and listen to the pitch and listen to what they wanted to do — where they saw the company going, where they saw [pro wrestling] going.” said Schwartz.

By his account, the meeting was attended by all the top decision makers in the company and even from CBS & Lionsgate (partners), to make an informed decision. The meeting must have gone well as the next day the whole network came to the conclusion that TNA had to be brought on board as confirmed by Brad.

He admitted to being a wrestling fan growing up, going so far as to have a wrestling name when joking in his basement.

His opinion on TNA President Dixie Carter

Schwartz had nothing but positive things to say about the sometimes controversial TNA honcho.

“Dixie is so impressive, and she’s such an amazing spirit with a good, positive energy to her. By the end of the meeting, she had won everyone in the room over, and the next day it was unanimous, ‘Let’s do this.’” he said.