SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
There appears to have been carry-over from Raw to Smackdown in terms of TV audience, as Thursday’s Smackdown scored the highest rating of the Fall TV season.
WWE Smackdown TV Ratings 2015
— December 17: Thursday’s show scored a 1.68 rating, up eight percent from a 1.55 rating last week.
It was the highest rating since August 20 leading into the Summerslam PPV.
– Smackdown drew 2.332 million viewers, up nine percent (200,000 viewers) from last week’s audience.
It was also the most viewers since Aug. 20.
DVR Update: Smackdown added 251,000 viewers from DVR viewing to bring the total to 2.583 million viewers.
Not only was there a significant increase in live viewers, but also DVR viewers, as it was the most DVR viewers in one month.
The total of 2.583 million was the most viewers since Aug. 20.
– The demographics are interesting. Males 18-49 was essentially even with last week, while males 18-34 was actually down from last week.
But, all adults 18-49 was up one-tenth of a rating from last week to the highest rating in more than two months.
Combined with a big surge in a18-49 for Raw, it appears that WWE is drawing back some of the general audience that was lost during the first three-and-a-half months of the Fall TV season.
Only been two shows in one week… A little to positive at this point as far as their ‘surge’ in ratings.
Creatively, it’s just one week, as I’m not convinced the booking can be sustained for more than a hot-shot two nights. But, Smackdown ratings have been crap all fall, and this is the first positive sign of life in four months. So, it’s definitely noteworthy. [JC]