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WWE News
WWE News: WWE touts debut ratings for Smackdown, setting viewership record for MyNetwork Oct 6, 2008 - 7:05:58 PM
The following press release was sent to PWTorch by WWE regarding the ratings news from Friday's Smackdown debut on MyNetwork...
MyNetworkTV Body Slams Previous Ratings Record
Network's Largest Audience Ever Tunes in to the Premiere of "WWE Friday Night SmackDown"
MyNetworkTV Delivers the Most Male Viewers in History of the Network and Tops All Other Broadcast Networks' Friday Performance in M18-34
NEW YORK – MyNetworkTV was the king of the ring on Friday night as the most viewers in the history of the network tuned-in for the two-hour all-star debut of "WWE Friday Night SmackDown" announced Greg Meidel, president of MyNetworkTV. The network premiere also delivered the most M18-34 (1.2) and M18-49 (1.3) viewers in MNT history, as "WWE Friday Night SmackDown" won the night in the coveted M18-34 demo, besting the closest broadcast network competitor by +33%.
3.2 million total viewers (P2+) (1.9 HH rtg) tuned-in to the MyNetworkTV telecast of "WWE Friday Night SmackDown." The Superstar-studded premiere garnered MyNetworkTV a 217% ratings increase in HH and 233% in A18-49 over the same Friday last year.
In making the announcement, Meidel stated, "The all-star kick-off of ‘WWE Friday Night SmackDown,' on its new home on MyNetworkTV was a knockout. We look forward to the edge of your seat storylines and Superstar matches that the WWE has in store this season."
For the first time ever on broadcast television, it was a night of Champion vs. Champion including a "Triple Threat Match" between WWE Champion Triple H, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho and ECW Champion Matt Hardy™ with Triple H coming out on top.
Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President of Marketing for WWE, added, "Friday's ratings performance was just further evidence that WWE builds networks having been a ratings driver for Spike TV, CW and UPN in the past."
"WWE Friday Night SmackDown" is presented on Friday nights at 8 PM (ET/PT) on MyNetworkTV.
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