The WWE Draft edition of Raw was topped by the NBA & NHL playoffs.
The May 1st edition from Fort Worth averaged 1,778,000 viewers and approximately 704,000 (0.54) in the 18-49 demographic. (Showbuzz Daily and Wrestlenomics)
Raw ranked fifth among cable originals behind coverage of the NBA and NHL playoffs.
It was a two percent decline in viewership and Raw’s lowest since March 20 while the 18-49 audience dropped by four percent to its lowest mark since March 13.
In the key demo, the decline was 13 percent among females while males 18-49 grew by two percent from last week.
Adults 18-34 dropped by one percent; however, the demo grew 17 percent throughout the three-hour episode from 0.36 to 0.42 in the final hour.
Adults 35-49 decreased by five percent this week, and adults 50+ dropped by one percent.
The first hour of Raw averaged 1,841,000 viewers and 0.56 in the 18-49 demographic. In the second hour, the show grew to 1,873,000 while the demo remained at 0.56. In the final hour, the audience fell to 1,620,000 and 0.50 in the demo. From start to finish, the show dropped 12 percent in viewership, 11 percent in 18-49, but grew 17 percent in 18-34.
Raw aired against back-to-back NBA playoff games on TNT with the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (4.7 million viewers and 1.64 in 18-49) followed by the Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets (4.5 million and 1.62), which were the top two programs on television on Monday.
Raw also ranked behind the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils (2.0 million and 0.69) on ESPN.
Compared to one year ago, this week’s episode of Raw was up by 12.5 percent in viewership, 43 percent in 18-49, and an increase of 77 percent in 18-34.
In Canada, Raw was returned to Sportsnet 360 after two weeks on OLN and averaged 210,300 viewers and 100,600 in the 25-54 demographic. The show ranked seventh among sports programs in Canada on Monday, which was led by the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils and Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox.
