12-06-2011, 10:47 PM
TNA President Dixie Carter is featured in an interview with Tennessean.com. The following are the highlights of the interview.
Carter on how TNA has changed with the times: "Weâre not just a wrestling company anymore. We do our own booking. We do our own promotion and public relations. Weâre a licensing company. We have toys, Halloween costumes, trading cards. We make our own music. All of those things are sold and promoted around the world. But we still do more than 500 hours of television a year."
Carter on how TNA has been able to keep up with WWE: "I donât care who you are, competition makes you better. Thereâs a reason thereâs a Loweâs across the street from every Home Depot and a CVS across the street from every Walgreens. I think weâve made WWE better, just as theyâve improved us."
Carter on TNA's ongoing challenges: "When a company first starts out, you have to do whatever you can to get into the business. Then, once youâre established, you spend a lot of time getting out of all the bad contracts that got you into the business. Deals with companies, bad partnerships or licensing deals. Weâre still working through some of those now that weâve found our footing."
Carter on the next trend in pro wrestling: "Maybe pulling back the curtain a little more. People now are so reality driven. The way we view wrestling in the coming years might respond to some of that. Fans will be able to see a little bit more than theyâre used to. Theyâll be able to see more of the wrestlersâ unscripted emotions and drama."
Carter on how TNA has changed with the times: "Weâre not just a wrestling company anymore. We do our own booking. We do our own promotion and public relations. Weâre a licensing company. We have toys, Halloween costumes, trading cards. We make our own music. All of those things are sold and promoted around the world. But we still do more than 500 hours of television a year."
Carter on how TNA has been able to keep up with WWE: "I donât care who you are, competition makes you better. Thereâs a reason thereâs a Loweâs across the street from every Home Depot and a CVS across the street from every Walgreens. I think weâve made WWE better, just as theyâve improved us."
Carter on TNA's ongoing challenges: "When a company first starts out, you have to do whatever you can to get into the business. Then, once youâre established, you spend a lot of time getting out of all the bad contracts that got you into the business. Deals with companies, bad partnerships or licensing deals. Weâre still working through some of those now that weâve found our footing."
Carter on the next trend in pro wrestling: "Maybe pulling back the curtain a little more. People now are so reality driven. The way we view wrestling in the coming years might respond to some of that. Fans will be able to see a little bit more than theyâre used to. Theyâll be able to see more of the wrestlersâ unscripted emotions and drama."