WWE Raw Faces Stiff Competition from NBA and NHL Playoffs, Impacting Viewership
Summary
– WWE Raw’s viewership dropped to 1.62 million with a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic, facing tough competition from NBA and NHL playoff games.
– Despite the kickoff of the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments, the show did not see the usual post-PPV ratings bump.
– Raw’s ratings were down from last week and the same time the previous year, although there was a slight increase in younger viewers.
The latest episode of WWE Raw, which followed the Backlash event and featured the start of the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments, saw a decrease in ratings, pulling in an average of 1.62 million viewers and a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This performance marked a downturn from the previous week’s draft episode, which typically boosts viewership numbers.
The decrease in Raw’s ratings amidst intense competition from ongoing NBA and NHL playoffs. The Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers NHL game attracted 1.85 million viewers with a 0.53 demo rating. In comparison, the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers NBA game significantly outperformed Raw during the first two hours, with 4.25 million viewers and a 1.44 demo rating on TNT.
The drop in viewership was not just a slight fluctuation; it represented a four percent decline from the previous week and a nine percent drop from the same period last year, though there was a four percent increase in the coveted 18-49 demographic compared to the previous year. This trend underscores a shifting viewer base, with a steady decrease in older viewers but a growing interest among younger demographics.
The hour-by-hour breakdown of Raw’s ratings shows a diminishing audience as the night progressed, starting from 1.71 million viewers at 8 p.m. and dropping to 1.46 million by the 10 p.m. hour, during which it faced the Denver vs. Minnesota NBA game. This game captured 4.06 million viewers and a 1.47 demo rating on TNT, underscoring the significant impact of sporting events on wrestling viewership.
The pattern of declining viewership for Raw is part of a broader trend observed since last August, reflecting changes in sports broadcasting and audience habits. As Raw competes for attention in a crowded sports playoff season, WWE may need to explore new strategies to retain and grow its audience, particularly as it continues to perform well in attracting younger viewers but struggles to maintain its broader viewer base.
