Friday’s live edition of WWE SmackDown drew an average of 2.468 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen, via Showbuzz Daily.
This final number is up 3.52% from the previous week’s final viewership of 2.384 million viewers for the post-Royal Rumble show.
Friday’s SmackDown drew a 0.64 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. This is up 4.91% from the previous week’s 0.61 rating. This past week’s 0.64 key demo rating represents 839,000 18-49 viewers, which is up 6.2% from the 790,000 18-49 viewers that the previous week’s 0.61 key demo rating drew, according to Wrestlenomics.
SmackDown ranked #1 in ratings for the key 18-49 demographic on network TV, even with the previous week’s #1 ranking. SmackDown ranked #2 in the 18-34 demo this week, even with the previous week’s #2 ranking. SmackDown ranked #1 in the 25-54 demo, up from the previous week’s #3 ranking. SmackDown came in at #7 for the night in viewership on network TV, even with the previous week’s #7 ranking. While SmackDown ranked #1 in the key demographic on broadcast TV for Friday night, Fire Country on CBS topped the day on network TV in viewership with an average of 6.491 million viewers, also drawing a 0.48 key demo rating.
SmackDown drew the second-highest total audience and the second-highest key demo rating of the year so far. Friday’s show drew well over the 2022 FOX average in viewership and the key demo rating. Cable ports competition on Friday included two NBA games on ESPN, PGA Tour coverage on the Golf Channel, Liga MX soccer coverage on FOX Deportes, two College Basketball games on ESPN2, two College Basketball games on FS1, and College Wrestling on Big Ten Network. Friday’s SmackDown viewership was up 3.52% from the previous week, and the key demo rating was up 4.91% from the previous week.
Viewership for Friday’s SmackDown episode was up 10.62% from the same week in 2022, while Friday’s 18-49 key demo rating was up 16.36% from the same week in 2022.
The NBA game between the Cavaliers and the Pelicans on ESPN topped the day on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.37 key demo rating, also drawing 1.069 million viewers. The Five on FOX News topped the night on cable in viewership with 3.366 million viewers, also drawing a 0.20 key demo rating
Friday’s SmackDown aired live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, with the following line-up advertised ahead of time – Hit Row vs. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos defending the SmackDown Tag Team Titles against Ricochet and Braun Strowman, plus Karrion Kross vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar vs. Madcap Moss to determine the new #1 contender to WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, which was the main event.
Below is our 2023 SmackDown Viewership Tracker, along with the Top 10 moments from Friday’s show:
January 6 Episode: 2.257 million viewers with a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 13 Episode: 2.326 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 20 Episode: 2.257 million viewers with a 0.55 rating in the 18-49 demographic
January 27 Episode: 2.544 million viewers with a 0.67 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 3 Episode: 2.384 million viewers with a 0.61 rating in the 18-49 demographic (Post-Royal Rumble episode)
February 10 Episode: 2.468 million viewers with a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demographic
February 17 Episode:
2022 Viewership Average: 2.123 million viewers per episode over 52 episodes
2022 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.51 rating per episode over 52 episodes
2022 FOX Viewership Average: 2.173 million viewers per episode over 50 episodes
2022 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.53 rating per episode over 50 episodes
2021 Viewership Average: 2.050 million viewers per episode over 52 episodes (2,082,154 without Best Of episode)
2021 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.54 rating per episode over 52 episodes (0.55 without Best Of episode)
2021 FOX Viewership Average: 2.127 million viewers per episode over 50 episodes
2021 FOX 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.56 rating per episode over 50 episodes
2021 FS1 Viewership Average: 758,667 viewers per episode (includes Best Of episode; 949,000 without it)
2021 FS1 18-49 Key Demo Rating Average: 0.20 rating per episode (includes Best Of episode; 0.27 without it)
2020 Viewership Average: 2.180 million viewers per episode (2 FS1 airings)
2019 Viewership Average: 2.164 million viewers per episode (1 FS1 airing)
2018 Viewership Average: 2.352 million viewers per episode
2017 Viewership Average: 2.546 million viewers per episode
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