Raw’s Viewership Takes a Hit During Football Frenzy

Summary

– WWE Raw’s ratings dipped significantly, facing tough competition from the College Football National Championship game.

– The championship game, featuring Michigan vs. Washington, garnered a massive 25.05 million viewers across various ESPN channels.

– Despite the return of CM Punk, Raw’s viewership dropped to 1.46 million, with a notable decline in key demographic ratings.

WWE Raw experienced a notable decline in its ratings, going head-to-head with the College Football National Championship game between Michigan and Washington. The football game, a major draw with over 25 million viewers across ESPN networks, overshadowed Raw’s broadcast, which only managed to attract 1.46 million viewers. This viewership dropped significantly from the previous week and the same time last year.

The show, which featured the much-anticipated return of CM Punk in the opening segment, saw its highest viewership at that point, with 1.76 million viewers. However, the rest of the show needed help to maintain this momentum. Raw’s viewership was down by 16% compared to the previous week, with a 27% drop in the 18-49 demographic and a 36% decrease in the 18-34 demographic. This decline was more pronounced than expected, indicating the strong appeal of the college football game.

The hourly breakdown of Raw’s viewership showed a consistent decrease over the three hours, starting at 1.54 million viewers at 8 PM and dropping to 1.37 million by 10 PM. This pattern reflects the challenge WWE faces in retaining viewers against major sporting events, highlighting the need for compelling content to compete effectively.