Raw’s Draft Episode Competes Well Despite Strong Sports Programming
Summary
– WWE Raw averaged 1.69 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the key 18-49 demographic during its draft episode, performing robustly against significant sports competition.
– The episode ranked fourth on cable, trailing only behind NBA playoff games and “Inside the NBA.”
– Despite heavy sports programming, WWE Raw saw an increase in viewership from the previous week and the same week last year, showcasing the episode’s strong audience draw.
WWE Raw’s recent draft episode demonstrated solid ratings performance, averaging 1.69 million viewers and securing a 0.55 rating among adults 18-49. This positioned Raw as fourth in overall cable ratings for the night, an impressive feat given the stiff competition from the NBA playoffs on TNT. The broadcast faced off against two high-profile NBA games: Celtics vs. Heat and Lakers vs. Nuggets, which pulled in significantly higher viewerships of 2.69 million and 3.96 million, respectively.
In addition to the NBA, Raw contended with the NHL playoffs, specifically the Tampa Bay vs. Florida game and the Dallas vs. Las Vegas game, yet managed to outperform these in its time slots. Notably, Raw’s viewership showed a 5% increase from the previous week and the same week last year, indicating a growing interest in the show’s content, particularly highlighted by segments involving popular wrestlers CM Punk and Drew McIntyre.
The strong performance of Raw in hour two and its competitive showing in hour three, even against the Lakers game, suggest that WWE’s programming continues to hold a dedicated fan base. Raw’s ability to outpace every show on network television for the night, with the second-highest-rated entertainment show being Bravo’s “Below Deck,” underscores WWE’s enduring appeal.
For total viewers for the entire night, Raw ranked 14th, a testament to the strong pull of NBA-related programming and news shows, yet still a victory for WWE in sports entertainment.
