I'm a longtime reader and I have a question about television ratings.
Why does the WWE care so much about ratings for Raw? Now obviously I
know that higher ratings equal higher advertisement dollars. But let's
say that Raw averages a 3.0 rating over the last 12 months. When a big
show like the 1000th episode of Raw or the night after the Royal
Rumble and The Rock's title celebration pops a big number, everyone
acts as if the WWE should be so excited. But surely one big rating
can't affect the amount the WWE can charge to advertisers for spots in
subsequent weeks right? It seems to me while although the days of 6.0
and 7.0 ratings are long gone, Raw is still one of the highest rated
cable programs. Especially in the coveted 18 to 49 male demographic.
So with the days of the Monday Night Wars long in the past and no
danger of Raw being canceled, why are high or low ratings met with
such discussion?
WWE basically makes all their revenue off TV rights fees now, which is why they've stopped giving a shit about PPVs not named Wrestlemania, so yeah, ratings are pretty important. It's not just that USA can cancel them, it's that they can go to Network X and say "Look at these ratings, buy our shitty fourth-string squash show for $3 million and you can get a piece of that too." know that higher ratings equal higher advertisement dollars. But let's
say that Raw averages a 3.0 rating over the last 12 months. When a big
show like the 1000th episode of Raw or the night after the Royal
Rumble and The Rock's title celebration pops a big number, everyone
acts as if the WWE should be so excited. But surely one big rating
can't affect the amount the WWE can charge to advertisers for spots in
subsequent weeks right? It seems to me while although the days of 6.0
and 7.0 ratings are long gone, Raw is still one of the highest rated
cable programs. Especially in the coveted 18 to 49 male demographic.
So with the days of the Monday Night Wars long in the past and no
danger of Raw being canceled, why are high or low ratings met with
such discussion?