ESPN’s broadcast of the college football playoff championship drew a blockbuster 11.0 adults 18-49 rating with 33.25 million viewers, but it did not prevent USA Network’s WWE RAW from enjoying a slight ratings uptick.
Monday’s three-hour telecast averaged a 1.33 adults 18-49 rating with 3.90 million viewers. Last week’s broadcast, which aired against considerably lighter competition but without Daniel Bryan, Brock Lesnar and a Randy Savage Hall of Fame announcement, scored a 1.27 rating with 3.76 million viewers.
Like last week’s broadcast, this week’s episode drew its lightest viewership in the 10PM hour. Unlike last week, however, it drew a comparatively strong adults 18-49 rating in the final hour.
This week’s RAW drew a 1.35 rating at 10PM, a 1.35 at 8PM and a 1.28 at 9PM. Last week’s episode delivered its lowest adults 18-49 in the last hour (a 1.24, versus a 1.29 at 9PM and a 1.27 at 8PM).
Indicative of the fact that football was a factor (despite the week-over-week uptick), RAW drew its strongest viewership in the 8PM hour (4.10 million, versus 3.90 million at 9PM and 3.72 million at 10PM). The 8PM portion of the broadcast began prior to the start of the Ohio State vs. Oregon game and thus endured less competitive impact.
