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SPIKETV VICE PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO RUMOR THAT NETWORK WAS SEEKING TO CANCEL TNA IMPACT SPARKED BY CALL TO BUBBA THE LOVE SPONGE

Several readers sent along Youtube.com links to a segment on Bubba the Love Sponge's show yesterday where an anonymous caller claimed SpikeTV executives were upset that TNA President Dixie Carter had fired Bubba. The caller claimed that Impact was one of the network's lowest rated shows and there was talk of canceling the series.

PWInsider.com contacted David Schwarz, Vice President, Communications at Spike TV, who issued the following response:

"I can assure you the caller was a fake and TNA iMPACT is not only among the highest rated shows with young men on Spike, but on Thursday nights as well. This past Thursday, Among Basic Cable Networks between 9p-11p, TNA ranked #3 in M18-49 behind ESPN (NBA Conf Semis CAVALIERS/CELTICS) and TBS (Disturbia, Family Guy) And our relationship with Dixie and TNA has never been stronger."

To be fair, Bubba the Love Sponge admitted that he wasn't sure if the caller was legitimate or not. We have confirmation the caller was, indeed, not a SpikeTV employee.

To listen to the caller's claims, watch the video below:

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