After several years without a broadcast home in the United Kingdom, IMPACT streaming partner DAZN are set to broadcast their weekly flagship on Friday nights.
IMPACT has previously been broadcast on a number of television channels in the UK. When the company, then known as TNA Wrestling, produced weekly pay-per-view shows, they were broadcast on The Wrestling Channel. As the company grew in popularity throughout the late 2000s, netting big name talent like Kurt Angle, Booker T, Sting and Christian Cage, popularity grew in the UK, also.
The show’s has bounced around some big broadcast partners in recent years. One of the longest tenures for IMPACT was on Challenge, where it aired until 2017. The show also aired on Channel 5 from 2019 to 2020 and, most recently, on a very short deal on FreeSports from 2020 to 2021.
After announcing that DAZN would be the official streaming partner of IMPACT Wrestling in a number of countries, including the UK and Ireland, the decision to broadcast the show over the air on their new television channel will be welcomed by fans.
Many fans are hoping that the return to linear television in the UK could also mean the return of UK touring. IMPACT Wrestling is returning to Australia next week, having recently competed another tour of Canada.
The announcement was made via a press release from IMPACT Wrestling, which you can read below.
TORONTO, ON and LONDON, UK, June 21, 2023 – IMPACT Wrestling — a property of Anthem Sports Group — and DAZN, the global sports entertainment platform, have made available IMPACT Wrestling’s flagship weekly show, IMPACT! on Sky UK via DAZN’s linear TV channel, DAZN 1 HD.
IMPACT! is televised on Friday evenings at 23:00 BST on DAZN 1 HD, channel 429 (check weekly listings).
IMPACT’s current roster puts the spotlight on a diverse blend of world-class athletes led by IMPACT World Champion Alex Shelley and Knockouts World Champion Deonna Purrazzo, World Tag Team Champions The Bullet Club’s Ace Austin & Chris Bey, Knockouts World Tag Team Champions The Coven, X Division Champion Chris Sabin, and Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry. Other IMPACT stars include Josh Alexander, Bully Ray, Moose, Brian Myers, and the hard-hitting Knockouts Division featuring Mickie James, Gisele Shaw, and Masha Slamovich.
DAZN HD 1 was launched on Sky UK on March 23 this year and features premier boxing and combat sports, women’s football, eSports, extreme sports and compelling sports documentaries.
The televising of IMPACT! on DAZN 1 HD, channel 429 on Sky UK, is part of a broader agreement between Anthem Sports Group and DAZN announced in November 2022.
“The UK fans have been among the most dedicated and passionate IMPACT Wrestling fans throughout our history. They have been clamoring for a return of Impact programming to TV, so we are very pleased to be on such an outstanding TV outlet as Sky UK via DAZN 1 HD,” said Scott D’Amore, President of IMPACT Wrestling. “We thank our partner, DAZN, and look forward bringing IMPACT Wrestling live to the UK very soon.”
DAZN 1 HD will also televise other IMPACT Wrestling programming across the UK and Ireland, including monthly specials, original shows and series, and additional content from IMPACT’s 5,000+ hour library. Since its inception in 2002, IMPACT Wrestling has established itself as one of the largest professional wrestling organizations in the world and the premier destination for wrestling fans across the globe.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc/Anthem Sports Group.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; and Anthem Sports Group.
Anthem Sports Group properties include IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; and Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.
About DAZN Group
DAZN is a leading sports streaming service in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the US and UK. Its wide range of content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC. DAZN is the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match outside North America.
DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment business where fans from across the globe can watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.
For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com.
Are you excited for the return of IMPACT Wrestling to British television? Will you be subscribing to DAZN to watch? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
