WWE Raw ratings up for final three-hour episode on USA
Raw last night in its final three-hour format on cable television drew 1.52 million viewers and a 0.48 in 18-49, a strong showing against two NFL games.
We don’t have the full chart for last night but the Seattle vs. Detroit NFL game on ABC had 15.03 million viewers and the Miami vs. Tennessee game on ESPN did 5.61 million viewers.
The show was up 13 percent in viewers from last week’s show which did a record low in viewers. It was up 30 percent in 18-49 from last week.
From Wrestlenomics, the high point of the show was the C.M. Punk vs. Drew McIntyre segment at 1.75 million viewers. The Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman last monster standing match in the main event had 1.45 million viewers.
Starting next week, Raw goes to two hours. By eliminating the lower-rated third hour, it will show an increase in viewers. This week’s episode for example, in a two-hour format would be 1.56 million viewers, and likely slightly higher since the lesser stuff that takes the ratings down would be eliminated.
From last year, also going against two games, it was up 0.3 percent in viewers and up two percent in 18-49, but with fewer homes getting cable, the real increase is seven percent in viewers and 12 percent in 18-49 when you factor in a true percentage rating.
The three hours were:
- 8 p.m. 1.58 million
- 9 p.m. 1.54 million
- 10 p.m. 1.43 million