TNN, HeAT, and Michaels

TNN will be officially changing their name to The National Network today. I have been reporting this for weeks. Look for the new logo on the WWF website and look for a completely new look for The NATIONAL Network in the coming weeks and months. Sources say that the overhaul won't be complete for at least a year or so. Should be interesting to see the influence that the WWF has on the cable channel since the WWF has the number one show on cable television for almost three years now.

With the change to MTV from USA, many folks are speculating that HeAT will have a bigger role in the WWF programming schedule, comparing it to shows like Smackdown and RAW rather than an "in-between" for the former shows and Jakked/Metal. This is not entirely true. While the feel of HeAT will be different, there are no plans for an expansion to 2 hours or for integrated storylines involving the storylines on RAW and Smackdown. However, the MTV and the WWF agree that if HeAT does draw ratings that are above "the competition" (NITRO) and numbers that are at least 75% of what RAW draws on cable (something like a 4.0 or something like that), THEN there may be a way that the WWF could possibly expand HeAT to a two hour show and either drop Jakked/Metal or turn those two shows into review shows. Either way, the immediate change that we are going to see in HeAT will be its change to a mix of wrestling and music videos when it hits MTV.

There is speculation that Shawn Michaels is putting himself back in the news because he wants to stay in the public eye. This is nothing but over-zealous reporters wanting to make a story about Michaels' ego being that what it was when he was an active wrestler. The truth is that the WWF and HBK are gaging the fan reponse to a possible return for Michaels to the WWF arena in some form or another...this has nothing to do with an ego or anything of that type, regardless of what you read elsewhere. There is even some talk about having Michaels involved with the XFL in a big way so that there will be more of a crossover feel with the fans. What do you think, announcer?