Average WWE Ratings For 2012

[Jack-Hammer]

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that, generally, speaking, WWE had a strong year ratings wise when you factor in both live and DVR viewership.

The WON reports that, again using live & DVR viewership, WWE Raw averaged a 3.3 Nielsen rating with 4,750,000 viewers in 2012. WWE Friday Night SmackDown! drew an average 2.1 Nielsen rating with 3,040,000 viewers. WWE Main Event on ION Television averaged a 0.8 Nielsen rating and 1,380,000 viewers for the roughly 2.5 months it aired in 2012. WWE Saturday Morning Slam on the CW averaged a 0.7 Nielsen rating with 1,140,000 viewers.

The Raw numbers initially surprised me when you consider how much WWE struggled this past season against Monday Night Football. Against MNF, every show on Monday nights took a huge hit this season. I figured that Raw would've been lucky to average a 3.0 for the year and 4 million viewers. I suppose it's true that the DVR really has changed the lay of the land when it comes to viewership. Neither Main Event or SMS draw any significant numbers via DVR viewership.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

I think outside of MNF, especially after the regular refs came back, the reports that RAW was struggling were overblown. Anti Punk guys would say that he was a ratings killer, while anti Cena guys would say the WWE refused to promote anyone but Cena, both sides stretching their arguments. I think a dip in ratings was to be expected, they gave a new guy a chance to run with the ball, and while Punk didn't put up John Cena, I think he did a serviceable job, and this report looks to confirm that for the most part. I do worry that with so much WWE programming on TV right now that eventually the numbers will drop. You have Raw on Monday, Main Event on Wednesday, Superstars online on Thursdays, and Smackdown on Friday. That is a lot of wrestling for one company each week.

 

[The Life Of Pablo Ren]

I like that, and I hope this means that people finally stop panicking, I believe it was a few months back when RAW was going head to head with a big Monday Night Football Game (don't remember which one)... and it drew a 2.4 rating. Everyone went into a frenzy and panic mode, but by that article and those numbers it still shows that the majority are still watching the product, it's just now with the DVR, they no longer have to choose between Football and Wrestling, they can watch both, just not at the same time. I wonder what that 2.4 rating would be with the DVR.. I am surprised with the number 3.3 however, I wasn't expecting it to be that high, again though, a very good thing!

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Well this is good. At least now I won't have to hear about the doomsayers predicting the WWE's demise "within 10 years" or whatever bullshit.

I think we need a new metric. Within 20 years (maybe less) I don't see cable TV even being a thing. We need a way to look at Hulu, netflix, mobile views, etc.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I suppose part of the problem is constantly reading that "Vince McMahon was furious backstage at the last Raw" and that "He's in a state of panic over last week's ratings"......and all that in the face of evidence that indicates ratings have been remarkably stable over the years.

So, even while it's nice to see a compilation like that, don't think for a minute it's going to shut up the doomsayers who detest everything WWE comes up with......yet continue to tune in at least twice a week. A satisfied viewer is the desired result, but anyone watching contributes to the ratings, no?

From a clinical sense, a man Vince's age shouldn't indulge in constant rage.......and from a business standpoint, statistical analysis shows he should know better.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

The higher than expected ratings are obviously great news. However, I think this means that we're going to be stuck with the 3 hour RAW format for the forseeable future at least. If anything this is evidence that WWE is going in the right direction overall and CM Punk should get some credit too as he was champion all of 2012, a year in which the average ratings were up.

 

[HellBoundPower]

This is definitely good news! WWE's rating haven't been as impressive the past could of years, and it's nice to see them go up a little. I think the addition of The Rock back on the roster, CM Punk's evolution as WWE Champion, and new wrestlers moving up the ranks and WWE not going back to the same formula as usual has contributed to the rising number. I suppose this will shut up most of the naysayers of CM Punk who thought that he was destroying the WWE with terrible ratings. I'm hoping 2013 will be an even better year, and that WWE will continue to evolve and become a better product.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I wonder how many people watch Raw, Smackdown, or Main Event on Hulu Plus. I'm sure it's not a big enough number to consider it the ratings, but I've been wrong before. Hulu has a decent subscriper base, and if they pushed WWE more in their featured content, it'd be a big market for them. It's already surprising that WWE keeps so much of their content on there as it is. I think you can go back and watch every episode of NXT; not that you'd want to...

Surprised Raw did so well on average. You have to think the huge WrestleMania build up did wonders for the average. Same with Lesnar's return, and specials like Raw 1,000. Also, shifting to 3 hours does change the average a little.

 

[M]

That's a pretty good turnout, I guess those people who kept saying they'd stop watching over and over again ended up watching it again.. who would have thought that would happen?

The returns definitely helped them a lot this year, as did the pacing between the main event storylines over the usual shit period for the latter part of the year. You had Ryback's rise followed by a smooth transition into the shield's protection of justice and then onto the ongoing john cena/ziggler feud to close out the year - actually intriguing reasons to watch.

Does anyone know how NXT went last year? Such a basic show, and yet so brilliant.

 

[scomvp316]

Clearly this is the average what VKM wanted. Anywhere between 2.7-3.1 is what VKM likes pre and post Attitude. Considering before WWE made it official they were going back to PG they were hovering around 4.0. I will always watch WWE no matter what but that also goes for other promotions too because I am a wrestling junkie. So we will see in two years where the ratings are. To have newer stars now within two years the ratings should increase around 3.5. If its lower than that then we all will know that they haven't increased viewership which isn't a bad thing but you always want your product to grow even on a minimal level

 

[samfeeley34]

Wrestling goes through boom periods and low periods, we're just at a low point right now. We'll bounce back in a few years. Don't worry.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Wrestling goes through boom periods and low periods, we're just at a low point right now. We'll bounce back in a few years. Don't worry.

How is the most bough ppv ever and consistently high ratings, as well as an enormous amount of web traffic and views a low point? Maybe this is just a really solid medium point. It's not 1999 anymore, if you miss raw, watch online, record it on your box, whatever. It's not apples to apples.