Kemo
07-09-2021, 04:47 PM
In February 2020, WWE reached a deal with British TV channel Channel 5 to host two different highlight shows. The deal was agreed with the idea being to get younger audiences watching by using a more family-friendly timeslot. However, WWE ratings have not proven successful on the channel, and both Raw and Smackdown shows have been removed from programming.
WWE ratings have been in a slump for a while now. All three shows have been posting low numbers in recent months. While the deal with Channel 5 is only a secondary one, it will still come as a blow. Especially as they are trying to get new, younger fans hooked.
The two shows were aired at 10:30 am on Saturday for Smackdown and Sunday for RAW. Smackdown was pulled after just a month of being on-air and moved to an even smaller channel. RAW was relocated to an 11 pm timeslot, before eventually being replaced by Friends reruns.
The confirmation came from Dave Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Not only is the drop in WWE ratings a continuing sign of the struggles the Connecticut-based promotion are facing but represents the loss of the only non-subscription-based coverage for WWE in the UK.
The only channel still showing WWE programming in the UK is BT Sport. These carry a minimum £15 a month subscription charge. On top of that, the shows on BT are live, airing as they air in the US. This means fans have to watch in the early hours of the morning.
Hopefully, for them, WWE ratings will improve in the UK with the return of international touring. Four dates have already been confirmed, starting in September.
WWE ratings have been in a slump for a while now. All three shows have been posting low numbers in recent months. While the deal with Channel 5 is only a secondary one, it will still come as a blow. Especially as they are trying to get new, younger fans hooked.
The two shows were aired at 10:30 am on Saturday for Smackdown and Sunday for RAW. Smackdown was pulled after just a month of being on-air and moved to an even smaller channel. RAW was relocated to an 11 pm timeslot, before eventually being replaced by Friends reruns.
The confirmation came from Dave Meltzer and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Not only is the drop in WWE ratings a continuing sign of the struggles the Connecticut-based promotion are facing but represents the loss of the only non-subscription-based coverage for WWE in the UK.
The only channel still showing WWE programming in the UK is BT Sport. These carry a minimum £15 a month subscription charge. On top of that, the shows on BT are live, airing as they air in the US. This means fans have to watch in the early hours of the morning.
Hopefully, for them, WWE ratings will improve in the UK with the return of international touring. Four dates have already been confirmed, starting in September.