SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
This week’s episode of WWE Smackdown Live drew a 1.55 rating, well below the 2018 average headed into this week of 1.77 and the ten-weekly rolling overage headed into this week of 1.78.
The NBA Playoff game between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors drew 8.3 million viewers, pulling viewers from Smackdown, which drew 2.2 million, down from the prior ten week average of 2.6 million. Smackdown still finished no. 3 in cable ratings among the key 18-49 demographic on Tuesday night, behind only the NBA game and the post-game on TNT. It beat the pre-game on TNT, which drew 1.8 million viewers. “Chrisley Knows Best” on USA drew 1.6 million and finished no. 5 for the night.
Other shows did more viewers than Smackdown; and Hannity on Fox and The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, with coverage of the U.S. political scene, drew 3.2 million and 2.7 million viewers respectively, but the demographics skewed older, so they finished no. 13 and 14 in the 18-49 adult target demo.
WWE has scored a huge reported deal to move Smackdown to Fox network in the fall of 2019, so ratings shifts week to week aren’t in and of themselves vital, although certainly overall trends up or down over time are important for (a) future TV deals; (b) any special viewership level clauses in contracts; (c) advertising other aspects of WWE business such as house show ticket sales, merchandise, social media engagement, and WWE Network subscriptions.
The May average for Smackdown ended at 1.63, down from the April average of 1.90 and the March average of 1.86. It’s the lowest monthly average since last May which drew a 1.60 average.
NOW CHECK OUT THIS RECENT UPDATE: Raw Ratings: Viewership down, third hour dropoff highest in last month, key metrics including versus NBA and NHL, cable ranking
More random excuses. It is not a good product right now. Monday Night Raw was terrible. Some people probably just took a break on Tuesday.