IMPACT Wrestling issued the following release, announcing they will be joining the Pursuit Channel on January 11th:
IMPACT Wrestling & Pursuit Channel Announce Agreement to Televise IMPACT! Nationally Across the U.S.
TORONTO | LUVERNE – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., announced today it has entered into an agreement to broadcast its flagship weekly two-hour program IMPACT! nationally across the U.S. on Pursuit Channel, the most widely distributed outdoor network and one of the fastest growing channels in the country.
Beginning on Friday, Jan. 11, featuring the aftermath of Homecoming, IMPACT Wrestling’s first marquee pay-per-view event of the year, IMPACT! will air weekly on Pursuit Channel on Friday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET.
“Pursuit Channel is a natural fit for IMPACT!” said Ed Nordholm, president of IMPACT Wrestling. “It has a passionate viewership base that correlates strongly with our core audience, and is one of the few broadcast destinations that is expanding its footprint, enjoying a 15% increase in broadcast distribution this year alone. With IMPACT Wrestling coming off a tremendous year of audience growth globally and positive fan engagement, we look forward to leveraging our respective resources to bring fans more of the wrestling content they want to see: tougher, edgier action.”
“Pursuit Channel is pleased to welcome IMPACT Wrestling into our Friday night lineup of popular shows,” said Rusty Faulk, CEO and founder of Pursuit Channel. “IMPACT Wrestling programming is perfect for our audience, which enjoys adventurous content to feed their wild side. We look forward to a long partnership and providing our fans with new and exciting world-class content while expanding IMPACT Wrestling’s audience to a new base.”
Showcasing top professional wrestling stars such as IMPACT World Champion Johnny Impact, who starred in the most recent season of the hit CBS show Survivor, plus Brian Cage, Eli Drake, Moose, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan, Pentagon Jr., Fenix, Rich Swann, the high-flying X-Division and the Knockouts, including Champion Tessa Blanchard, Taya Valkyrie, Rosemary, Allie and Su Yung, IMPACT! has been a leading destination for professional wrestling fans, televised globally in 120 countries since its inception in 2002, while growing its popularity and reach on YouTube, Twitch, Pluto and social media platforms.
It’s worth noting that Pursuit is owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment CEO Leonard Asper, who acquired the network back in 2012. According to the network website, he joined the Pursuit management team that “created brand awareness for the network inside the television industry and Wall Street.”
IMPACT had aired on POP TV since January 5th 2016 when it debuted on Tuesday nights. The show then moved to Thursday nights where it aired at 8 p.m. EST, and more recently starting at 10 p.m. EST. The move to a new night is not the first time IMPACT has aired on Fridays; the show aired on Friday towards the end of its run on Destination America, and when it was on FOX Sports Net back in 2004-05.
IMPACT Wrestling is still scheduled to air a new episode on January 3rd; last night’s show and next week’s are ‘best of 2018’ episodes.
