WWE News: SmackDown Live Audience Slightly Increases, Stays Ranked Third (12/11/18)

A look at the ratings for last night’s WWE SmackDown Live!

It hasn’t been good when it comes to the cable television ratings for WWE as of late, with both RAW and SmackDown Live seeing historically low numbers the past few weeks while at the same time staying steady in the Cable Top 150 Rankings (see how this week’s RAW held up).

After falling under two million viewers last week (see that here), last night’s SmackDown Live rating has now been revealed and that is still the case this week. However, the blue brand did go up slightly to a 1.977, up 1.49%. Here’s the last four weeks of viewership for SmackDown Live:

• November 20th: 2.150
• November 27th: 2.264
• December 5th: 1.948
• December 12th: 1.977

While RAW fell one spot in the Cable Top 150 Rankings for the 18-49 demographic this week, the blue brand’s position remains the same at they come in at third for the second week in a row. Here was last night’s top five:

1. Below Deck – Bravo – 0.83
2. The Curse Of Oak Island – History – 0.73
3. SmackDown Live – USA Network – 0.68
4. 30 For 30: 42-1 – ESPN – 0.46
5. Chrisley Knows Best – USA Network – 0.38

EA’s Take: Fresh match-up? Check. Big main event match? Check. Entertaining segment? Check. Build-up to a pay-per-view? Check. These are all things (outside of the PPV build-up) that people who point to ratings tell me they want in their wrestling programming. Does SmackDown Live not deliver on almost a weekly basis? Is it not a better program than RAW almost regularly? Then tell me why their ratings are also suffering and saying it’s the way WWE makes SmackDown Live perceived to the “second-rate” to RAW, that’s not going to cut it because they deliver what I’m being told are the reasons for the poor numbers every week. AND they do it without any competition like RAW faces. I’ve also been told this time of year is irrelevant as well, so spare me with that one. I’ll be waiting on Twitter, @E_Ames323.

What do this week’s numbers for SmackDown Live say to you? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!