Editing Paramount Network (section)

==== "Get More Action" ====
[[File:Spike.svg|thumb|200px|Spike's logo, used from May 9, 2006 to March 3, 2015]]
In 2005, Viacom conducted research which found that word-of-mouth knowledge narrowly perceived Spike TV's programming as being predominantly "[[Low culture|low-brow]],” violent, and reliant on [[sex appeal]]. These findings led Viacom to pursue a rebrand in an effort to clarify the network's focus. At its upfront presentations in 2006, Viacom unveiled a new logo for the channel (officially shortening its name to "Spike"), with the new slogan "Get More Action.” The new brand was described as being "authentic" and "unapologetically" masculine, and emphasizing [[Action fiction|action]] as a core genre of programming for the network. The new branding would launch alongside the premiere of ''[[Blade: The Series]]'' in June 2006. An aspect of the rebranding were themed [[Promo (media)|promos]] with integrated [[product placement]], such as "Men of Action" (which featured homages and parodies of "classic action moments").<ref>{{Cite news |title=For Spike TV, It's a Man's World |url=http://www.adweek.com/tv-video/spike-tv-its-mans-world-96489/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103031640/https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/spike-tv-its-mans-world-96489/ |archive-date=2024-11-03 |access-date=January 15, 2018 |work=Adweek}}</ref> 

On September 5, 2006, Spike premiered the documentary film ''Metal of Honor: The Ironworkers of 9/11'' by filmmaker Rachel Maguire, which profiled the ironworkers' efforts in the attempts for rescue and recovery of the [[September 11 attacks]] at the [[World Trade Center site]]. The film proceeds through the ironworkers' dismantling of the fallen towers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/arts/television/05buil.html|title=Metal of Honor: Building on Ground Zero|last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 5, 2006|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> On October 10, 2006, Spike aired the [[2006 Scream Awards|inaugural]] [[Scream Awards]], an awards show honoring [[Horror fiction|horror]], science fiction, fantasy and comic book-based entertainment.<ref name="bloody-disgusting_2023">{{Cite web |last=Vasquez Jr |first=Felix |date=22 March 2023 |title=The "Spike TV Scream Awards" Gave Horror Fans Their Own Oscars for Six Special Years |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3755598/spike-tv-scream-awards-gave-horror-fans-their-own-oscars-for-six-special-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510233141/https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3755598/spike-tv-scream-awards-gave-horror-fans-their-own-oscars-for-six-special-years |archive-date=10 May 2023 |access-date=13 August 2023 |work=Bloody Disgusting (www.bloody-disgusting.com) |language=en-US |df=dmy}}</ref> In January 2007, Spike premiered their first and only [[anime]] series ''[[Afro Samurai]]'', whose English-language cast featured actor [[Samuel L. Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news |date=February 27, 2006 |title=Funimation Acquires Afro Samurai |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-02-27/funimation-acquires-afro-samurai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915142947/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-02-27/funimation-acquires-afro-samurai |archive-date=September 15, 2024 |access-date=September 2, 2009 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 2006 |title=Afro Samurai Hits Spike TV on January 4 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-31/afro-samurai-hits-spike-tv-on-january-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210025929/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-10-31/afro-samurai-hits-spike-tv-on-january-4 |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=September 2, 2009 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref>

In October 2007, [[Kevin Kay]] was appointed network president after serving as executive vice president and general manager of the channel for the previous two years.<ref>{{cite news|author=John Dempsey|title=New Prexy For Spike TV|publisher=Daily Variety|page=4|date=October 10, 2007}}</ref> The post had been vacant since December 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Names Kevin Kay President – TVWeek|url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/10/spike_tv_names_kevin_kay_presi.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011190522/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/10/spike_tv_names_kevin_kay_presi.php|archive-date=11 October 2007|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, the network premiered ''DEA'', a reality series based on the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Orders DEA Reality Show|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6519461.html?rssid=193|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=January 10, 2008|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004064309/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/111922-Spike_TV_Orders_DEA_Reality_Show.php|archive-date=4 October 2012|access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref>

On April 7, 2008, Spike acquired cable syndication rights for the sitcom ''[[Married... with Children]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=April 7, 2008|title=Spike TV Acquires Married...With Children|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6548537.html?rssid=193|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102039/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6548537.html?rssid=193|archive-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> And five new unscripted shows were also picked up for the channel's Summer 2008 lineup, including ''[[1000 Ways to Die]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Picks Up Five Unscripted Series|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558935.html?rssid=193|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=May 8, 2008|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102329/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6558935.html?rssid=193|archive-date=6 May 2009|access-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref>

In the fall of 2009, Spike broadcast live Australian [[rugby league]] semifinal games from the [[National Rugby League]] and also showed the grand final, as part of efforts by [[David Niu]] to bring the [[American National Rugby League|National Rugby League USA]] to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Brings Rugby To America|url=http://www.spike.com/blog/spike-tv-brings/86142|date=September 2, 2009|work=Spike.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906093956/http://www.spike.com/blog/spike-tv-brings/86142|archive-date=6 September 2009|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cape_may/article_b0a124ce-0e45-5f9a-b6a3-35b91f906e51.html|title=New league hopes to popularize rugby in U.S.|work=pressofAtlanticCity.com|date=2 August 2009 |access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref> On June 1, 2010, Spike launched into the first crowd-sourced pilot episode contest with [[Scripped]], a web-based screenwriting community.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 1, 2010|title=Scripped.com Announces Script Competition With Spike TV|work=Marketwire|url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Scrippedcom-Announces-Script-Competition-With-Spike-TV-NYSE-VIA-1268723.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626005529/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Scrippedcom-Announces-Script-Competition-With-Spike-TV-NYSE-VIA-1268723.htm|archive-date=26 June 2010}}</ref>