WWE Raw ratings down, still hold up well against strong competition

If you consider the seventh worst viewer number in history as good news, and last night that was very realistic to consider, Raw came out well against strong competition.

Last night’s show averaged 1.69 million viewers and a 0.52 rating in 18-49 going against the Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots (14.60 million viewers, 4.0), the Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers on ESPN (8.65 million viewers, 2.92), and a New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays baseball playoff game on TBS (2.33 million, 0.60).

Raw finished 44th on cable for the night, which is likely its lowest finish ever due to the huge ratings for cable news. Raw was behind three football related shows, the baseball game, and two shows on TLC as far as total viewers, as well as 37 news shows.  In 18-49, Raw was sixth, behind the four sports broadcasts and 90 Day Fiance.

Raw had a strong first hour, but fell in hour two. Hour three, built around Drew McIntyre & The Street Profits vs. Randy Orton, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler, fell, but still had to be considered well above expectations given the competition.

Raw was down eight percent in viewers from last week for a show boosted by coming after a PPV and bringing back Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Christian, and Big Show. It was down five percent in 18-49 and nine percent in 18-34.

As compared to the same week one year ago, Raw was down 28 percent in viewers, 31 percent in 18-49, and 43 percent in 18-34.

As far as the first-to-third hour declines, the show was down 13 percent in women 18-49, 12 percent in men 18-49, 25 percent in teenage girls, up five percent in teenage boys, and down nine percent in over 50.

The three hours were:

8 p.m. 1.79 million viewers
9 p.m. 1.67 million viewers
10 p.m. 1.60 million viewers