I will give them a pass for that rating on Christmas eve.
The real interesting rating that I am looking for is when RAW goes up against Alabama / Notre Dame on Jan. 7th. That could be the first RAW that does a rating below 2.0 for the first time in a long time.
Like it means anything. The LITERALLY only thing of note when it comes to how many people watched on XMAS EVE is that the first hour was the lowest, not the third.
It may not dip under 2.0, but you're seriously under estimating the amount of viewers AL-ND is going to get. Like Weyer said, it may hit close to superbowl levels...on a Monday. If I were WWE, I'd almost just show a "best of..." episode and push everything else a week forward.
Y'know, I get that we generally only care about ratings through the context of how they potentially affect the show, or conversely, are a reflection of the show's quality.
But it's still fucking annoying. Is anyone's enjoyment of the show positively or negatively affected by how many other people were estimated to have watched it?
I hate to sound like a McMahon shill, but their response would (and should) be something along the lines of they didn't get this far by being afraid of a challenge.
That said, they should absolutely do that the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. Even on years when neither holiday or (or Eve) fall on Monday. Give your viewers a break, give your performers a break. We're never gonna see any sort of "off-season that would be beneficial to all, but a three-week break after the December PPV till the first Monday after New Year's? Fuck and yes.
I always work Saturdays now so I see far less CFB than I used to, I hate Notre Dame, and once basketball season starts I couldn't give a shit less about football (probably because my favorite college football team blows and my favorite college hoops team is pretty good).
So I'll be watching CM Punk defend the title and the return of Rock. I'll check in on the ND/Bama game that will inevitably have less than 25 total points here and there.
Now is the Rock actually appearing LIVE on Janurary 7, or is via satellite. Because I've read conflicting reports stating that the Rock isn't appearing until the Raw before the Rumble, and reports stating that he's working both Raw AND Smackdown all month.
It sucks that storylines pretty much come to a halt and most of The Shield's momentum is stopped as well, but there's not much we can do. Egg nog and family on December 24th and champagne and new year's kisses on the 31st. It's our way of life here in Merica.
I also know of several people who likely weren't watching their own show this week...
Analyzing the ratings is a holdover from the Monday night wars. I still them find them interesting but it has no impact on how I personally like a show.
Never know why they don't take nights like these to trial balloon some of the crap they have planned for WWE Network. Run sneak peaks of different shows to fill up the time. By the time they get around to showing legends house, most of them will probably be dead.
Even a best of show, have Cole hosting it, end with a Shield run in "stop wasting your time in the past, the best, OUR best starts next week" and have them trash the set.
I don't know why they don't just do a Best of the Year show around this time. It won't get shit for ratings, but it will also cost practically nothing to produce. And for fuck's sake Vince, it's Christmas, give your guys a couple weeks off!
It's going to be lower next week but regardless of the football game the 1-7 show will push a 3.0. I'm gonna watch the game personally but I don't think cfband the wwe have much cross over audience.
Exactly, plus I'd bet it gets fairly close to actual ratings, the hardcore fan that'd watch a taped show on a holiday eve would probably watch a best of anyhow.
...only thing I can think of is they wouldn't want to show exactly how close the ratings would be as I'd imagine USA would start pressuring for more taped type specials to cut live production costs.
I don't get why people think this is a big deal. It's a taped show airing for three hours on the one night a year where kids want to go to bed early and adults are either at a party, watching It's A Wonderful Life or getting stuff ready for in the morning. I'm shocked it's above a 2.0.
But if it's getting the same ratings than why not do it? And anyway, I think you got it backwards there, I'd imagine right now that WWE would want to do something to cut costs and USA would be against it. Don't forget that the only reason Raw went to 3 hours was because USA bankrolled it.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I think a 2.2, which really isn't a bad rating for any cable show to begin with, on Christmas Eve is pretty good I think.
"Who cares? It's a harmless holiday special and is not to be taken seriously. God, who complains about the quality of a holiday show?" - Every "cool" person on 411mania.
Indeed, but I always have respect for guys that maintain kayfabe.
BTW, an angle where WWE re-signs the Bella twins and put Cena and Bryan together because they're both dating 2 twins? I think it could work, and it would automatically explain why AJ is so crazy. "So BOTH of you guys are laying the wood (you'd have to clean up that term PG-wise, of course) to other girls?" Angles based on real life usually draw pretty well and with even halfway competent writing they'd be all set.
I think it's for the same reason that fans of US football teams would rather see a 2-14 suckfest (which often leads to new blood in the coaching and executive positions, as well as a nice, high draft pick) rather than an middling 7-9 performance (which is more likely to keep a mediocre team in limbo).
I get the sentiment, though I fear tanking ratings will be pinned on Ryback, Punk, the Shield and Kane/Bryan long before anything else is considered.
It doesn't really matter what their response is going to be, this has the possibility of being ugly. Ultimately though, it won't matter to them financially and I'm sure USA is not panicking. This AL-ND game is like a perfect storm of two of the most iconic college football franchises in history.
Yeah, ratings are an interesting topic of what the general pulse of the company is, but it doesn't affect me personally. Lately, I've thought the show has had mostly below average stuff mixed with some awesome stuff. Quite the extremes for me.
Uncrowned BCS champs. All College football take notice. With Meyer at the helm, alot of those SEC prospects will be coming up north to play for a proven winner... Its about to be a dynasty.
Yeah in general the three hours are hurting them more than anything.
At this point I think they will find it hard to get that audience back if they return to two hours though. Part of the issue I think is that at this point, it's not just that the extra hour that is dragging the rating down.
Certainly they were never able to build an audience for that hour that stuck around from the previous hour -- but it seems to have actually eroded their overall base, as they often lose viewers between other hours as well.
The fact that the show often starts out with the first hour being the highest rated hour and just drops from there is probably more troubling than the overall drop in the composite rating itself, as it seems viewers are not compelled to even stick around for the traditional two stronger hours.
Well stopping the soap opera nonsense would help too. You mentioned building an audience, which is indeed something they need to do. However, they need to figure out who their audience is supposed to be.
What kid is going to want to watch a jerk of a hero, bad romance stories, the same matches over and over again (How many times does HELL NO have to beat the Scholars?), Vickie getting humiliated by Vince, and Punk cutting the same exact promo every week while Ryback loses every single major match he has. Kids don't care about Rock because he insults their hero and most of his jokes go over their heads.
Adults aren't going to like the show because the characters suck and the matches are just ok.
They have no idea what their audience is and it's not going to get any better until they figure out what their audience is supposed to be.
Time to take the title off Santa.
ReplyDeleteVinny Mac today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuBGevbuQYs
ReplyDeleteSeriously though: is their a threshold we can sort of root for that would cause them to actually make some meaningful changes to the product?
ReplyDeleteOn a fairly related note, shouldn't Rock probably be back on Monday?
ReplyDeleteHe's not over/can't work
ReplyDeleteI will give them a pass for that rating on Christmas eve.
ReplyDeleteThe real interesting rating that I am looking for is when RAW goes up against Alabama / Notre Dame on Jan. 7th. That could be the first RAW that does a rating below 2.0 for the first time in a long time.
Like it means anything. The LITERALLY only thing of note when it comes to how many people watched on XMAS EVE is that the first hour was the lowest, not the third.
ReplyDeleteWith Ryback vs. Punk in a TLC match and The Rock on that show? Not bloody likely.
ReplyDeleteYou don't think Rock will be making an appearance?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have been reading, all the sports media analysts are saying that Notre Dame vs Alabama will do similar ratings to the superbowl.
ReplyDeleteAnd these guys are not saying that they think it will do great ratings, they are saying it will do those numbers.
Again, I will interested to see what a loaded RAW with The Rock does against what is the most anticpated college football game in history.
ReplyDeleteThe Rock is popular but I don't think he is a popular as The Notre Dame Fighting Irish vying for the national championship.
That's when Rock reportedly returns.
ReplyDeleteIt may not dip under 2.0, but you're seriously under estimating the amount of viewers AL-ND is going to get. Like Weyer said, it may hit close to superbowl levels...on a Monday. If I were WWE, I'd almost just show a "best of..." episode and push everything else a week forward.
ReplyDeleteOh crap, we're getting Vince vs. Ryback, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteY'know, I get that we generally only care about ratings through the context of how they potentially affect the show, or conversely, are a reflection of the show's quality.
ReplyDeleteBut it's still fucking annoying. Is anyone's enjoyment of the show positively or negatively affected by how many other people were estimated to have watched it?
I think people are overestimating the ratings for the game. Plus, I think the game itself will be over by the 2nd quarter. It's gonna be Squash City.
ReplyDeleteI hate to sound like a McMahon shill, but their response would (and should) be something along the lines of they didn't get this far by being afraid of a challenge.
ReplyDeleteThat said, they should absolutely do that the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. Even on years when neither holiday or (or Eve) fall on Monday. Give your viewers a break, give your performers a break. We're never gonna see any sort of "off-season that would be beneficial to all, but a three-week break after the December PPV till the first Monday after New Year's? Fuck and yes.
No, they're gonna do what they're gonna do.
ReplyDeleteI always work Saturdays now so I see far less CFB than I used to, I hate Notre Dame, and once basketball season starts I couldn't give a shit less about football (probably because my favorite college football team blows and my favorite college hoops team is pretty good).
ReplyDeleteSo I'll be watching CM Punk defend the title and the return of Rock. I'll check in on the ND/Bama game that will inevitably have less than 25 total points here and there.
Hey, how am I supposed to like something if I don't know if everyone else likes it? I'm still awaiting the big Brooklyn bridge jump-off, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking something like 24-3, Bama. The game is gonna blow.
ReplyDeleteThe premise has been this: It's Notre Dame in the championship game.
ReplyDeleteYou either like Notre Dame or you hate them. The game could turn out to be a blowout and RAW does not get hurt in the rating.
But if Notre Dame vs Alabama turns out to be a classic? That will be interesting to see.
Nope, Warrior vs Ryback vs Zbyszko. - Iron Man Match
ReplyDeleteNow is the Rock actually appearing LIVE on Janurary 7, or is via satellite. Because I've read conflicting reports stating that the Rock isn't appearing until the Raw before the Rumble, and reports stating that he's working both Raw AND Smackdown all month.
ReplyDeleteYou may be onto something. They haven't really been hyping his appearance as much as I thought they would.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that storylines pretty much come to a halt and most of The Shield's momentum is stopped as well, but there's not much we can do. Egg nog and family on December 24th and champagne and new year's kisses on the 31st. It's our way of life here in Merica.
ReplyDeleteI also know of several people who likely weren't watching their own show this week...
http://oi47.tinypic.com/1zh0ehl.jpg
Doesn't matter at all, nor will the new year one - hell I expect that will be even lower.
ReplyDeleteIt's only an issue if things don't pick up in January
Exactly. Notre Dame is the Cena of college football, except ND had the decency to sell losses the past few years.
ReplyDeleteDeluded fan.
ReplyDeleteTwo college football powerhouses.
College Football has been waiting for Notre Dame to be good for about a decade and they are going up against the the best team in the... SEC.
Holy shitballs...
ReplyDelete25 minutes of Warriors entrance
5 minutes of Rybacks
1 minute of Larry Z
7 minutes of Stalling
22 minute match, im down.
THIS MOTHERFUCKER HAS SHORTS ON IN FUCKING WINTER!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat are they going to do if Smackdown starts getting higher ratings than Raw?
ReplyDeleteWho is the old guy in the middle?
ReplyDeleteGeez, Cena is such a dork.
ReplyDeleteOnly works 1 day a year and always get the main event.
ReplyDeleteHe's really out of shape since he got popped for that wellness violation also...
ReplyDeleteI don't think every Warrior match combined has hit 22 minutes for the entrance.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget about him burying Jesus.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Bryan is more and more hilarious with that beard. Based on this pic, it looks like he's getting the hotter Bella too, haha.
ReplyDeleteyou're such a cutie pie.
ReplyDeleteAnalyzing the ratings is a holdover from the Monday night wars. I still them find them interesting but it has no impact on how I personally like a show.
ReplyDeleteJesus was like Cena, even his own people (the Jews) didn't like him, and even the hotbed at the time (Rome) booed him out of the building.
ReplyDeleteTrue that. Finishing him with The Crucifix made Zack Ryder's burial look like Rybacks push in comparison.
ReplyDeleteNever know why they don't take nights like these to trial balloon some of the crap they have planned for WWE Network. Run sneak peaks of different shows to fill up the time.
ReplyDeleteBy the time they get around to showing legends house, most of them will probably be dead.
Even a best of show, have Cole hosting it, end with a Shield run in "stop wasting your time in the past, the best, OUR best starts next week" and have them trash the set.
Pretty much. I would think that everything they're going to do through WM is set in stone at this point anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of ratings did they pull in the past when Xmas eve fell on a Monday? Granted those were two-hour shows.
ReplyDeleteI was JUST thinking that regarding the twins
ReplyDeleteIs Bryan dating the one without the implants? Cause that's the hot one.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they don't just do a Best of the Year show around this time. It won't get shit for ratings, but it will also cost practically nothing to produce. And for fuck's sake Vince, it's Christmas, give your guys a couple weeks off!
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be lower next week but regardless of the football game the 1-7 show will push a 3.0. I'm gonna watch the game personally but I don't think cfband the wwe have much cross over audience.
ReplyDeleteExactly, plus I'd bet it gets fairly close to actual ratings, the hardcore fan that'd watch a taped show on a holiday eve would probably watch a best of anyhow.
ReplyDelete...only thing I can think of is they wouldn't want to show exactly how close the ratings would be as I'd imagine USA would start pressuring for more taped type specials to cut live production costs.
I don't get why people think this is a big deal. It's a taped show airing for three hours on the one night a year where kids want to go to bed early and adults are either at a party, watching It's A Wonderful Life or getting stuff ready for in the morning. I'm shocked it's above a 2.0.
ReplyDeleteBut if it's getting the same ratings than why not do it? And anyway, I think you got it backwards there, I'd imagine right now that WWE would want to do something to cut costs and USA would be against it. Don't forget that the only reason Raw went to 3 hours was because USA bankrolled it.
ReplyDeleteThey better hope Alabama puts the hurt on ND early.....or vice versa.
ReplyDeleteJust hit by the realisation that the Undertaker has become the Santa of wrestling
ReplyDelete"I'm shocked it's above a 2.0."
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the exact same thing. I think a 2.2, which really isn't a bad rating for any cable show to begin with, on Christmas Eve is pretty good I think.
I hope Alabama just curb-stomps them. Fuque Notre Dame!
ReplyDelete"Who cares? It's a harmless holiday special and is not to be taken seriously. God, who complains about the quality of a holiday show?" - Every "cool" person on 411mania.
ReplyDeleteSounds logical to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen did the WWE stop doing year-end review shows? Was it when they started putting out the Best of DVDs?
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Cena STILL wearing cargo shorts, tennis shoes, and a t-shirt outside of the ring.
ReplyDeleteYour Avatar's tongue is blue. NOW I know where James Cameron got the design idea for the Navi!
ReplyDeleteUndefeated Buckeyes. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but I always have respect for guys that maintain kayfabe.
ReplyDeleteBTW, an angle where WWE re-signs the Bella twins and put Cena and Bryan together because they're both dating 2 twins? I think it could work, and it would automatically explain why AJ is so crazy. "So BOTH of you guys are laying the wood (you'd have to clean up that term PG-wise, of course) to other girls?" Angles based on real life usually draw pretty well and with even halfway competent writing they'd be all set.
The ratings may be high for the first half. But once Bama is up by 3 TDs, I doubt many hang around.
ReplyDeleteHis longest of his WWF career was Wrestlemania VII.
ReplyDeleteAll of the SEC and Notre Dame haters will steer clear of the national title game. Point goes to Raw.
ReplyDeleteI think it's for the same reason that fans of US football teams would rather see a 2-14 suckfest (which often leads to new blood in the coaching and executive positions, as well as a nice, high draft pick) rather than an middling 7-9 performance (which is more likely to keep a mediocre team in limbo).
ReplyDeleteI get the sentiment, though I fear tanking ratings will be pinned on Ryback, Punk, the Shield and Kane/Bryan long before anything else is considered.
It doesn't really matter what their response is going to be, this has the possibility of being ugly. Ultimately though, it won't matter to them financially and I'm sure USA is not panicking. This AL-ND game is like a perfect storm of two of the most iconic college football franchises in history.
ReplyDeleteYeah, ratings are an interesting topic of what the general pulse of the company is, but it doesn't affect me personally. Lately, I've thought the show has had mostly below average stuff mixed with some awesome stuff. Quite the extremes for me.
ReplyDeleteThey don't impact my enjoyment of the show at all, but I could crunch numbers and talk about them all day on their own lol
ReplyDeleteI dont know, i guess we will see.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!
ReplyDeleteUncrowned BCS champs. All College football take notice. With Meyer at the helm, alot of those SEC prospects will be coming up north to play for a proven winner... Its about to be a dynasty.
BIG TEN IS BACK BITCH!!!
Not sure about the implants, but Nikki definitely had the bigger ass - she's the hot one.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that He went over everyone in the end too.
ReplyDelete"train them to not care about your show... and they wont watch."
ReplyDeleteIm not shitting on the 2.2 rating, im shitting that its been steadily going down since what October? Earlier?
Its only gonna get worse before it gets better.
New Years will be bad and 1-7 might regain some viewers but this negative trend has been negative for a while.
The length of the show is killing it. Three hours is just too much every single week and there's no way around it.
ReplyDeleteYeah in general the three hours are hurting them more than anything.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I think they will find it hard to get that audience back if they return to two hours though. Part of the issue I think is that at this point, it's not just that the extra hour that is dragging the rating down.
Certainly they were never able to build an audience for that hour that stuck around from the previous hour -- but it seems to have actually eroded their overall base, as they often lose viewers between other hours as well.
The fact that the show often starts out with the first hour being the highest rated hour and just drops from there is probably more troubling than the overall drop in the composite rating itself, as it seems viewers are not compelled to even stick around for the traditional two stronger hours.
But what can they do?
ReplyDeleteThis is USAs doing, im sure, cuz Vince has to know 3 hours is ratings death for any show.
Im sure Vince isnt that much of a goof to go "Lets see if we can keep our ratings going 3 hours. HUH-HAH!"
Here are Xmas and Xmas Eve
ReplyDelete12/24/2007: 2.5
12/25/2006: 2.7
12/25/2001: 3.2
12/25/2000: 3.8
Raw didn't air on Christmas in 1995, but Nitro did:
12/25/1995: 2.5
"But what can they do?"
ReplyDeleteFour hours!
Well stopping the soap opera nonsense would help too. You mentioned building an audience, which is indeed something they need to do. However, they need to figure out who their audience is supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteWhat kid is going to want to watch a jerk of a hero, bad romance stories, the same matches over and over again (How many times does HELL NO have to beat the Scholars?), Vickie getting humiliated by Vince, and Punk cutting the same exact promo every week while Ryback loses every single major match he has. Kids don't care about Rock because he insults their hero and most of his jokes go over their heads.
Adults aren't going to like the show because the characters suck and the matches are just ok.
They have no idea what their audience is and it's not going to get any better until they figure out what their audience is supposed to be.
and the bigger ass is the only thing Caliber cares about.
ReplyDeleteI liked Santa better when he was Balls Mahoney anyway.
ReplyDeleteThat's the first time I've ever seen Elvy associated with the word "cool".
ReplyDeleteAny time there's 2 girls and one has implants the girl without them is the hot one.
ReplyDeleteHe kind of looks like Dana White.
ReplyDelete