SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
An historically-low 2.15 TV rating last week was enough for WWE. Over the course of two nights, WWE pushed their chips to the center of the table and cashed in for a 2.66 TV rating Monday night after TLC.
WWE Raw TV Ratings Tracking
— December 14: Raw scored a 2.66 rating, up five-tenths of a rating (24 percent) from last week’s historical low point.
It was by far the highest rating of the Fall TV season (topping the previous high of a 2.47 rating in September) and highest since August 31.
– Raw averaged 3.864 million viewers, up 27 percent from last week’s draw of 3.054 million viewers. Hourly Break Down:
- 4.043 million first hour viewers. This was the most 1H viewers since June 15 – the night after the MITB PPV.
- 3.786 million second hour viewers. This was the most 2H viewers of the fall season.
- 3.825 million third hour viewers, reversing the hourly downward on the strenght of the WWE Title match. The third hour was up almost exactly one million viewers from 2.850 million 3H viewers last Monday. It was the most 3H viewers since August 31.
In the demographic ratings, Raw surged to season highs in each key demographic.
- Adults 18-49 improved 24 percent to the highest point since Aug. 31.
- Males 18-34 improved 15 percent to the highest point since Aug. 31.
- Males 18-49 improved 15 percent to the highest point since Aug. 31.
– One year ago this week, Raw scored the exact same 2.66 rating on December 15, 2014.
At the time, it was a poor rating relative to the 2014 Fall TV Season average of a 2.77 rating. This year, it’s viewed as a huge number compared to the current Fall TV Season average of a 2.33 rating.
Sad when a huge rebound is a 2.66
Is framing the 2.66 rating as a “huge rebound” the proper analysis? I mean, it’s still below 3.0. I would think the more accurate analysis is that “WWE pushed their chips to the center of the table and” avoided further embarrassment. Can you imagine how this rating would be viewed 5 years ago?
It’s definitely a huge week-to-week rebound. You’re right that it’s a peanuts number compared to even one year ago when the exact same rating was a sign of Raw being flat. But, relative to what they’ve been doing this fall, it’s the type of number to keep USA satisfied. [JC]
Crazy times in the wrasslin’ world!
I think the ratings surge in the male demos associated with this week’s Raw rating indicates the reality that pro wrestling is, at its best, a niche product for a primarily-male audience that is best served when presenting things in a more logical, straightforward, no-BS fashion(ie: presenting Roman Reigns as the silent, no-bones ass kicker which he excelled at in The Shield & which he was meant to be all along).