WWE Raw ratings hold steady against NBA, NHL playoff competition

WWE Raw held up well Monday against the NBA and NHL playoffs with the last 49 minutes of the show going against a monster NBA number, finishing at 1.82 million viewers and an 0.56 in 18-49 and 0.40 in 18-34. 

Raw was fourth for the night on cable and beat everything on network TV except American Idol (0.61). It was behind the two NBA games on TBS and Inside the NBA which did an 0.73 from 1:07-2 AM.

It went against the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat NBA game until 10:11 PM (3,497,000/1.24), and the LA Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies game after 10:11 PM (4,264,000/0.164). The Lakers feature LeBron James.

It also went against three NHL playoff games: the New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers game on ESPN (1,042,000/0.36); the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game on TBS (803,000/0.29) and the Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets game on ESPN (482,000/0.18).

Raw was third in women 18-49 behind the NBA games, fourth in men 18-49 behind the NBA games and Inside the NBA, fourth in 18-34 behind the same shows, third in women 12-34, fourth in men 12-34 and ninth in total viewers, trailing two NBA games and six news shows.

The major takeaway is that saving Bad Bunny for hour three worked out well for younger viewers as hour three beat hour one with women 18-49, 18-34, women 12-34 and men 12-34 which rarely happens. 

Additionally, hour three went against the much stronger NBA playoff game, so those gains are even more impressive.

The number of viewers was identical to last week while 18-49 was down eight percent and 18-34 was down seven percent, but the numbers were very strong considering the head-to-head competition. 

From last year, the show was up 13 percent in viewers, up 27 percent in 18-49, and up 48 percent in 18-34, so these are massive gains with younger viewers.

As far as first to third hour changes, which are usually significant drops, women 18-49 was up five percent, men 18-49 was down four percent, women 12-34 was up 13 percent and men 12-34 was up 21 percent, while over 50 was down 13 percent.

The better hold and actual gains in some demos would likely be tied to Bad Bunny, so he was very much a legit draw except to those over 50. 

Click Here: sharks rugby jersey

The three hour breakdowns were 8 PM 1.84 million viewers, 9 PM 1.94 million viewers, and 10 PM 1.67 million viewers.