Lowest Viewership on Fox but Strong Start to 2023
Summary
– WWE SmackDown’s December 29 episode recorded the lowest viewership on Fox to date.
– Despite the dip, it was the best-performing episode of 2023.
– The show featured a ‘Best of 2023’ theme, contributing to its unique viewership dynamics.
The December 29 episode of WWE SmackDown presented a mixed picture in terms of viewership. According to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics, this episode recorded an average viewership of 1.355 million, marking it as the lowest for SmackDown since its debut on Fox in October 2019. However, despite this dip, it was the best-performing episode of 2023.
The show’s rating in the key 18 to 49 demographic was 0.28, down from the 0.55 rating of the December 22 episode. Preliminary viewership for the December 29 episode was 1.32 million, a decrease from the 2.01 million viewers on December 22. The episode also scored a 0.26 preliminary rating in the 18 to 49 demographic, down from the previous week’s 0.50.
WWE SmackDown aired a ‘Best of 2023’ episode on December 29, which likely influenced its viewership numbers. This thematic approach, focusing on highlights and recaps, often results in different viewing patterns compared to regular live-action episodes.
As WWE SmackDown prepares to return to the USA in 2024, these viewership figures offer insights into the show’s performance and audience engagement. The fluctuating numbers reflect the challenges and opportunities for WWE in maintaining and growing its audience base.
