Going against a giant NFL broadcast, WWE Raw saw a small increase but still posted its second-lowest 18-49 audience on record.
The December 13th episode of Raw from Minnesota averaged 1,574,000 viewers with approximately 504,000 (0.39) in the 18-49 demographic, according to Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and Showbuzz Daily.
The show finished sixth among cable originals with an 8 percent increase in the demo figure from last week’s all-time low of 462,000. This week’s number would still rank second lowest of all the available data for Raw.
Monday night was dominated by the NFL game between the L.A. Rams and Arizona Cardinals that was simulcast on ABC and ESPN. The network version of the game averaged 14,549,000 (3.54 in 18-49) with ESPN averaging 7,923,000 (2.29) and was the largest Monday Night Football audience this season.
Raw opened with 1,620,000 viewers and 0.39 in the 18-49 demo for the first hour. It grew to 1,627,000 and 0.40 in the second hour including males 18-49 increasing from 0.46 to 0.49. The third hour sank to 1,474,000 and 0.37 in the demo with males 18-49 dropping to 0.44.
The show climaxed with Bobby Lashley’s third of three matches on the program where he defeated Big E. in a No Disqualification match and was added to the championship match at Day 1 on Jan. 1.
According to Brandon Thurston’s data, females 18-49 grew by 21.5 percent this week while males 18-49 increased by 2 percent. Adults 35-49 moved from 329,000 to 360,000 this week and adults 18-34 were up by 11,000 viewers on average this week as a result of females in the demo going from 45,000 to 64,000.
Throughout the three hours, the loss among the key demos were all under ten percent except for adults 50+, which dropped by 11 percent. Over the course of the show, total viewers fell 9 percent and the 18-49 demo declined by 5 percent.
In Canada, Raw averaged 174,000 viewers on Sportsnet 360, we have not received the 25-54 demo figure yet.
