[The Boy Wonder]

I'm pretty sure a good portion of the IWC thought the "Epic" CM Punk would usher in a new audience and higher ratings for the WWE. That didn't happen and it's not because of how they booked Punk. The fact is CM Punk didn't bring anyone new in with his promo. The IWC hoped it would but it didn't happen. So while he's been a good champion for over a year the audience didn't grow under his reign -- it remained the same and as of late it's been going down.

[N-destroy]

The numbers are all over the place as usual with Meltzer's breakdowns. You really have to look into quarter segments, the commercials and backstage stuff to know what actually drew. Meh...

That 10 PM quarter had only the end of Cena/Dolph match iirc? However seems like the previous quarter lost viewers as well, so I guess Cena/Dolph/AJ/Vickie scandal clearly failed.

With Punk hurt, TLC PPV's top drawing match would be Cena vs Dolph ladder match. I'd be worried for the buyrate if I were vince.

[#1Peep4ever]

ok as far as i am concerned the only one that really drew numbers was vince and punk floating somewhere in between much like cena right now and everyone else loosing viewers

[JY57]

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/..._and_More.html

- WWE CFO George Barrios participated in the 40th annual UBS Global Media Conference in New York City on Monday and said the company is very focused on creating new content, according to a transcript on SeekingAlpha.com.

It doesn't sound like WWE will be taking RAW back to two hours anytime soon. Barrios touted that the third hour of RAW is up 35% versus the programming that was airing in its place on the USA Network. He added that USA is very happy with that. Barrios also noted that Saturday Morning Slam on the CW Network is up 50% over what it replaced and Main Event on Ion is up about 15% from the programming it replaced.

Barrios also talked about five major deals that WWE has coming up for renewal over the next few years, ones that he is confident about - RAW on USA, SmackDown on SyFy, BSkyB in the UK, Taj TV in India and Mattel.

Barrios briefly discussed the WWE Network but didn't really say anything new from what we've heard already. He mentioned that WWE feels there is too much there in a potential Network not to keep pushing at it. WWE believes the payoff could be too large to give up on it and continue to push on that.

[jonoaries]

Welp...that's the nail in the coffin of doomsday theorists. If USA is happy, Vince is happy and thus all is well

[TrentBarretaFan]

"Daniel Bryan vs. Rey Mysterio lost 366,000 viewers"

Really? Investment in pure pro wrestling seems not profitable today...

[The-Rock-Says]

More bullshit from WWE. WOW, it replaces some shit TV that no one watches and they beat them in that time slot. WOW.

Your ratings are down, WWE. That is all that matters and it 80% to do with you going 3 hours.

[Twisted14]

I guess we could stop analysing these ratings so much now. If they really don't mean anything anymore and WWE is content with the numbers they're pulling now, then what's the point? I also hope (though I know that my hope is completely futile) that the constant arguments of who draws and doesn't in this company can end. It's pretty clear to me that nobody fucking draws for TV.

The only regulars who stand a chance now are Punk and Cena, but neither are really able to do a while lot on their own. Also, seriously, if Cena is losing viewers, then what is it the real problem here?

With the possibility of voiding my whole post here, I'll say it anyway. Yeah, I'm a Punk mark. I really like the guy and enjoy what he does and he's one of the few reasons I watch WWE programming. Programming that I actually enjoy for the most part unlike a lot of other people here. However despite all that, I can see that there is a problem with WWE programming that is turning people off, and for fuck's sake it isn't any individual wrestler.

Would the ratings be any better if John Cena were champion right now? I really doubt it.

[jonoaries]

Originally Posted by The-Rock-Says

More bullshit from WWE. WOW, it replaces some shit TV that no one watches and they beat them in that time slot. WOW.

Your ratings are down, WWE. That is all that matters and it 80% to do with you going 3 hours.

Actually no it isn't. PPV buys (13%) [both Summerslam and Night of Champions were way up from last year] and live & televised entertainment (5%) are up from last year, business was down 4% however. USA is happy that people, even a small amount (relative to what was doing) stick around to watch the 3rd hour. I don't see why they wouldn't be, all the network cares about is viewers, RAW brings viewers so they are happy.

.
I keep telling you people that RAW is irreplaceable on the USA network and thus all your doom and gloom talk isn't relevant but I'm a CM Punk mark, and I know 10 million people aren't watching wrestling on monday nights anymore but really what do I know? Nothing I guess.
.

To act like the CFO is "working" people is to deny common sense. The man is running a company and has to release financial information for shareholders, he's not going to "work" them. TV ratings is an archaic barometer of how a company is doing. Trust me if it were a big deal they would've made changes by now.

[JasonLives]

That the 3rd hour would do worse was expected by both USA Network and WWE. Which is why USA Network is paying less for that 3rd hour then the previous 2.

Im sure the previous 2 hours are doing disappointing numbers but the extra hour was always bound to draw less.