The Evil Genius Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 First ad - "Be like Spike". Second ad - "Mikey likes Spike". :laugh: Cable TV's TNN Changes Name to Spike 1 hour, 31 minutes ago Add Entertainment - AP to My Yahoo! By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer NEW YORK - Spike is no longer just the name of a famous film director or a volleyball move. Now it's the name of a cable network, too. Struggling TNN — which just two years ago changed from The Nashville Network to The National Network_ announced Tuesday that, effective June 16, it will call itself Spike TV and become the first network aimed specifically at men. "We just like the idea of having a guy's name," said Albie Hecht, network president. "We thought that was smart and fun and irreverent." TNN's switch isn't exactly a stretch. Since it already airs World Wrestling Entertainment, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and a made-up game of basketball played on trampolines called "slam ball," nearly two-thirds of TNN's audience is male, anyway. Lifetime, Oxygen and the Women's Entertainment network all seek female viewers. Although outlets like ESPN have a mostly male audience, Hecht said Spike TV is the first to explicitly identify this as a goal. The switch also enables TNN, and parent company Viacom, a chance to outmaneuver the publishers of Maxim magazine. Dennis Publishing is developing a cable channel called the Maxim Entertainment Network, or MEN. Viacom's attempt two years ago to keep the TNN initials, though, confused some viewers who still saw it as a regional, country music-oriented channel. TNN's ratings have been sagging, with an average prime-time audience of a little more than 1 million viewers during the first three months of 2003, down 16 percent from the same year-earlier period. TNN dropped from the eighth-most popular basic cable station to 14th. Its most popular programs, Monday's two WWE wrestling shows, are off 22 percent in viewership, with "Star Trek" down 32 percent, Nielsen Media Research said. They will remain on Spike TV. Spike will also work with Men's Health magazine to produce segments on fitness or relationships, and CBS Marke****ch to provide financial updates. New programs in the works include "A Guy and His Stuff," about gizmos and gadgets, and "Top 10 Things Every Guy Should Experience," which will follow men to top sporting events like the Super Bowl. Spike TV is already available in 86 million television homes. Despite the name, Hecht promises the network will be no He-Man Woman Hater's Club. "We'll be unapologetically male," he said. "But it will also be a place where women are welcomed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Originally posted by The Evil Genius ...and a made-up game of basketball played on trampolines called "slam ball," nearly two-thirds of TNN's audience is male, anyway. If this is what I think it is, I used to play this in college back in '88, but back then it was called Hi-Ball. It was a freakin' blast. I've never seen it back East, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEastNCFan Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 Throw this network a rope, cause they are going down fast. They are looking for any gimmick that will work. Although, this idea has some merit. I can see it now. 24 hr. marathons of The Man Show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romo Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 I love TNN. It better not die. Where will i get my ST: TNG marathons? and good hunting shows? Not sure i like the name Spike but i do like it that they've come out and said we are a men's station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 How about a Star Trek network. Yes, I'm a programmer, why do you ask?...... I'm w/ Romo sits to pee on this one; it's cool to have ST TNG to fall back on when there's nothing worth watching on TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awgustlab Posted April 16, 2003 Share Posted April 16, 2003 I always thought that TNN standed for "The Neck Network". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.