:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62671923/20181211_sd_shaneconfrontsmiz__87996c61adcaed9732a140596a0d88f7.0.jpg)
WWE’s numbers on Tues., Dec. 11 weren’t good. But SmackDown improved over the week prior in both audience metrics, so on a pay-per-view (PPV) week dominated by discussions about how bad the Monday night product’s been - even incremental upswings are welcome.
With a WrestleMania rematch main event and rap battle segment promoted a week in advance, the blue brand saw viewership rise by about 29K to 1,977,000. Hey, we told you it wasn’t much! That was the eleventh biggest audience among cable originals on the night, behind History Channel’s Curse of Oak Island, Bravo’s Below Deck and a bevy of MSNBC & Fox News political talk.
Ratings were also up a smidge. SmackDown was third on the night with a .68 share of the 18 - 49 demographic.
Increases are fine, and this is a rough time of the year, but it’s really difficult to frame a viewership number that’s half-a-million smaller than last year at the same time as good news. Try if you want. While you’re at it, here’s a list of SmackDown’s numbers from the past six months:
Dec. 4 - 1.95 million / .66
Nov. 27 - 2.26 million / .81
Nov. 20 - 2.15 million / .69
Nov. 13 - 2.31 million / .90
Nov. 6 - 2.1 million / .68
Oct. 30 - 2.11 million / .73
Oct. 23 - 2.09 million / .69
Oct. 16 - 2.55 million / .92
Oct. 9 - 2.1 million / .67
Oct. 2 - 2.1 million / .68
Sept. 25 - 2.19 million / .72
Sept. 18 - 2.28 million / .78
Sept. 11 - 2.23 million / .72
Sept. 4 - 2.32 million / .77
Aug. 28 - 2.35 million / .75
Aug. 21 - 2.44 million / .77
Aug. 14 - 2.19 million / .7
Aug. 7 - 2.2 million / .73
July 31 - 2.4 million / .75
July 24 - 2.34 million / .75
July 17 - 2.29 million / .74
July 10 - 2.18 million / .68
July 3 - 2.01 million / .54
June 26 - 2.14 million / .64
June 19 - 2.32 million / .78
June 12 - 2.18 million / .66
June 5 - 2.14 million / .67
For complete results and the live blog for SmackDown this week click here. To read a complete recap & review of all the night’s events click here. For a full playlist of the show click here.
Source: Showbuzz Daily