WWE Raw ratings down against NBA playoffs
With competition from the NBA playoffs, Raw dropped to its lowest total viewership number since the end of football season, as expected.
The show averaged 1.65 million viewers overall, drew a 0.47 rating in 18-49, and drew a 0.32 in 18-34.
A major key was the big drop in hour three, caused by the Golden State Warriors, the best drawing team left in the playoffs, vs. Denver Nuggets game that did 3.22 million viewers and a 1.08 in 18-49. The Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers game against the first two hours of Raw did 2.74 million viewers and 0.96 in 18-49. The latter game should also greatly hurt the Canadian ratings for Raw which have been very high of late.
It was the 23rd biggest first-to-third hour drop by percentage in Raw history, and second biggest of 2022.
Raw was third in 18-49 behind the two playoff games, fifth in women 18-49, third in men 18-49, fourth in 18-34, fifth in women 12-34, and fourth in men 12-34. It was 17th for the night in total viewers behind the NBA games and news shows.
The show was down nine percent from last week in viewers, down 13 percent in 18-49, and down 16 percent in 18-34.
As compared to last year, when the show was not against the NBA playoffs, Raw was down 14 percent in viewers, down 22 percent in 18-49, and down 12 percent in 18-34. It should be noted that the number of homes USA is in was down nine percent from last year, so equally measured a nine percent drop really is staying even.
Raw did beat ABC in the third hour, beat CBS after 8:30 p.m., beat NBC handily but lost to Fox.
Usually the first-to-third hour drop is a good measure of what age groups were less interested to stick around, but this week it’s more about the Warriors game and who was shifting to watch that.
Raw dropped six percent from hour one to hour three in women 18-49, 15 percent in men 18-49, 39 percent in teenage girls, 33 percent in teenage boys, and 19 percent with people over 50.
Raw attempted to build hour three around the dual weddings, and WWE weddings have historically been a big draw, and the mystery opponent for Cody Rhodes. But the competition of the Warriors game was too much for that to keep the audience.
The top rated non-NBA shows last night on cable behind Raw were Below Deck on Bravo at 925,000 viewers and 0.31, and Better Call Saul on AMC at 1.42 million viewers and 0.31.
Raw’s three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 1.80 million viewers
- 9 p.m. 1.69 million viewers
- 10 p.m. 1.46 million viewers