By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Eric Bischoff published a new blog on ericbischoff.com discussing the "challenges" of TNA's production schedule, which includes taping Impact every other week or sometimes three or four episodes at a time.

Bischoff said he wouldn't want to be on the road 52 weeks per year to get a week-by-week idea of how fans are receiving the Impact product, but he suggested the current taping schedule is less than ideal compared to what he was accustomed to in WCW.

"There are some things I like about the production schedule of Impact (mostly not having to travel 52 weeks a year), but some things that I continue to find challenging," Bischoff said. "Most notably is the inability to read the crowd and 'litmus test' an audience’s reaction to a story, scene or character."

Bischoff described the process during the Monday Night Wars era of taping Raw or Nitro in front of a live audience on Monday, receiving ratings information on Tuesday, and making adjustments for the next week.

"The fluidity of this process cannot be under-estimated," Bischoff said. "While I am not sure I would want to sign up to be on the road 52 weeks per year at this point in my life, I do covet the real-time 'research' and process that only a live television series like WWE Raw enjoys.

Bischoff also blogged on Hulk Hogan, the person, and his latest political views.

Caldwell's Analysis: TNA could run smaller venues that seat about 2,000-3,000 people for TV tapings, but that's another big cost to add to the company's financial position when they've already added a number of high-priced talents over the last 12 months with no return on that investment. It's the same as it always has been that TNA has to clean up the creative mess, come up with a vision for what it is they're doing with the product, and allow the talent to shine without being bogged down by over-written scripts. They can't take a step toward the next "dangling carrot" - whether it's weekly TV tapings or something else - until they figure out who they are.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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