Dynamite falls to lowest viewership of 2023 on its regular night

[johnpollock]

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/10/26/dynamite-falls-to-lowest-viewership-of-2023-on-its-regular-night/

AEW Dynamite dropped to its lowest viewership of the year on its regular night while airing against the opening night of the NBA season.

The October 25 episode of Dynamite from Philadelphia averaged 774,000 viewers and 321,000 (0.24) in the 18-49 demographic, per Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics & Sports TV Ratings.

The show aired against the NBA season opener between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks averaged 2,552,000 viewers and 0.90 in the demo on ESPN.

Dynamite ranked sixth among sports programs on cable behind the NBA games and coverage on ESPN. Dynamite did rank above the NHL game between the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals as well as a college football game between Sam Houston and UTEP.

It was Dynamite’s lowest viewership for a Wednesday night episode since June 15, 2022, and its smallest audience in the key demo since June 28 of this year.

In the 18-49 demo, female viewership declined 30% from 122,000 to 86,000 with males dropping from 283,000 to 234,000 or 17% from last week.

Adults 18-34 declined by 24% to 120,000 and ended the pattern set by Collision, Raw & NXT this week where the demo displayed a double-digit increase over the past week. The demo saw males drop from 108,000 to 67,000 while women were up slightly by 6%.

Adults 35-49 decreased by 19% to 201,000 which was due to the female audience members dropping more than double from 73,000 to 33,000 while men only fell by 5%.

Comparing AEW Dynamite to NXT’s Halloween Havoc from the previous night, it was NXT topping AEW among adults 18-34 including males in that demo while AEW was ahead in all the other key demos except overall viewership where NXT edged AEW with 787,000 to 774,000.

In Canada, Dynamite averaged approximately 98,000 viewers and 49,000 in the 25-54 demographic on TSN 2, which were up from figures of 85,300 and 39,400 last week.

[kliq]

Its unfortunate to see AEW take such a hit lately in the ratings and in attendance. I havent watched that much in the past month outside of Youtube, but something is going on and I’m hoping they can fix it.

I can’t help but wonder if the issue is overexposure. When AEW was red hot, it was 2 hours of main programming a week. Now that that have 5 (or maybe 4 if you dont count Rampage), unless you don’t consider certain shows “must see” which is a bad thing in its own right, it is becoming a bit of a chore to keep up, especially if you also watch WWE.

[Alex_Patel]

I think it’s more that they announced nothing super exciting. Like Okada is exciting if you’re a big fan, but for most people don’t even know who he is. On top of that you had a very obvious MJF win against the guy with no chance of winning, and I think Tony’s the big surprises to the point nobody cared about Ric Flair.

Huge match Saturday should be a reset.

Tony needs to stop hyping dumb stuff like it’s a gift from god

[kliq]

Very good points.

With that said, is this real? I didnt see Dynamite last week, but I’ve seen this screen shot all over the place.

[MarkP]

Yes, it’s a real photo. But cam sides are frequently empty. For the better part of the last twenty years, most WWE weekly TV were the same.

For Dynamite this week per Wrestletix…

I believe that photo was from last week. This was the attendance then:

Crowds have been slowly climbing up as of late. Screenshots like this are frequently being used to try and dunk on AEW… When the reality is they don’t actually show anything. Those seats were never on sale to begin with. But it’s much mor interesting to a certain section of fans to use it as fuel to try and put down the company.

Also, I think it’s silly to say that one bad TV rating represents anything. Last week was over 900K and nothing that major was announced. Making sense of US viewership these days is a fool’s errand.

[kliq]

Gotcha about the photo…for the record, I saw it floating around on social media, but then I read an article on Sportskeeda which is why I asked if it was real.

Regardless, while I agree that one bad rating doesn’t mean anything, this is one example of many that shows AEW is down from where it was the past couple years and I think its ok to acknowledge that.

I’m an AEW fan, and the shows are still good (admittingly though I’ve been a bit off this past month), and I know you are a fan as well, but I want them to do better. I want to see them selling out major arena’s, I want to see talents going back and forth between the two major companies because both are thriving. I understand why Tony Khan or AEW PR may want to paint a picture that they are doing “better then ever”, but based on what I hear John and Wai talk about on the podcast, figures are down, and as a wrestling community here on Post I hope we are at a place where we can talk about the “why” rather then just get into a back and forth about if its true or not when all indicators point to it being true.

[McGuire72]

Dang I’m surprised this did so poorly. This was the most excited I’d been to watch in a while thanks to Okada and the Sting retirement tour. It’s a long NBA season, unfortunately, so this may become the new norm.

[Alex_Patel]

I think this has more to do with how Okada is perceived.

I think to a lot of us fans it’s a big deal, and if the show is in town, we would go watch it. Which is why he led to more ticket sales.

However to a large part of the other Fanbase, they have no idea who he is other than a guy who always loses. Like he’s never won in AEW. So if you don’t really know, and I know people like this, you’re not gonna turn into watching.

[RocketKing]

If you’re in North America and care who Okada is, you probably watch AEW already.

[Alex_Patel]

You’d be surprised

I’m not saying this is the scientific study, but I know at least three people who tune in and out of AEW but have no interest in seeing an Okada match over anyone else.

[kliq]

I think there is a lot of truth to this. I think the hardcore fans like the ones that post here on this board, they are pumped about this, but they are already watching. Don’t get me wrong, great thing to do for fan retention, but do I think the average WWE fan who may check out AEW if something is buzzing (ie. Punks return) will check it out? Probably not.

[TheBenjamin]

I hope this number moves them away from using so much older talent. If you told me in 2019 that Dynamite would feature Edge, Christian, the Hardys, RVD, Flair, Sting and Jericho - I wouldn’t have believed you.

I am a fan of a lot of those guys but I don’t know think they all need to be featured so much.

[MarkP]

I believe their downturn in business has more to do with comparatively, how well WWE is doing right now. Money is very tight right now for everybody. People have a finite amount of money they can spend on going out to events, etc. Somebody is going to lose out.

In terms of show content - I’d say AEW is doing the best storytelling they’ve done in several years. From the “everybody’s gunning for MJF”, to Hangman/Swerve, to Copeland / Christian, to return of HOB, to Toni Storm, etc, to Cole / Roddy. There is more “story stuff” going on now than I can recall over the last several years. I mention this, because there is such a common bad faith take on AEW is that they are lacking in stories. When is absolutely not the truth.

I believe media and TV is changing - so it is difficult to say if something is working or not strictly based on TV ratings.

In terms of content on the show - I really don’t think the idea that the show is dominated by older talent is completely fair. The Hardys and Jarrett are nearly only being used to elevate others. Copeland / Christian are being used to elevate those around them, such as Darby, Nick Wayne, Luchasauraus. RVD is being used to help elevate Hook. I feel like it’s pretty clear.

Comparing the use of legends in AEW to how the same sort of talent has been used in the past is night and day. I haven’t seen anybody come in and cut the momentum out of any homegrown talent. The closest would be CM Punk’s usage, in all honesty. Ran over Hangman and MJF and never gave anything back.

Anyway… The wrestling business is cyclical. I fully expect the tide to come in and out over the years ahead. WWE’s current hot streak won’t last forever. There will be times their crowds are down, and AEW will gain some momentum again, and vice versa.

I do feel like TK has lost support from some in the wrestling media, because he’s no longer bending over backwards to serve them, or giving them a platform. Metlzer, Thurston and others, are people who have clearly turned on AEW for the most part, and are far more into WWE now that Triple H is in charge and the company is far more open in terms of communication.

Anyways, yes, AEW has room to improve. They’ll get back to doing better in time.

I also have a hard time with this discussion because so many of the takes are so out of touch with reality, or based on the voices of a few who really have no interest in seeing AEW grow. The minute Triple H took charge in WWE, it became crystal clear where people’s interests lay.

At the end of the day, nobody knows what will lead to business turning around for AEW. Will it be a breakthrough angle? Break through talent? WWE slowing down?

It’s exhausting to be an AEW fan. It feels like every Thursday people are declaring it’s dead or everybody freaking out over how to turn things around. Every damn week.

They’re turning around their attendance. They’ve refocused a ton of stories. They’re elevating tons of people every month to roles they would never be in had it not been for the platform AEW provides. The weekly discourse is maddening and always focusing on what they aren’t yet or can’t be.

[RocketKing]

TK knows how to put two wrestlers who will have a good match in the ring together. He has not shown that he can make stars. And that’s what’s missing from AEW. People that want to watch wrestling already tune in, the people that want to watch stars don’t.

Nearly every main eventer has a midcard (at best) stable around them that makes them look so small time. And is there a single guy who moved up the card because of working with the older guys? Darby has been with Sting for like four years and he hasn’t been elevated to anything.

The only star “made” in AEW in four years has been MJF. And giving TK credit for him would be like giving Russo credit for The Rock.

[jamead]

I never hear “cost” discussed as an issue other then PPV buys.

In the UK right now people can’t afford anything. Is it the same in the US and if so maybe that’s the issue.

Also I wonder if AEW viewers are completely different to WWE

Raw is something people have watched every week for decades. It’s a stable of your weekly viewing.
AEW is a product of the streaming years and who watches anything streamed at a set time each week.

Do we have the entire viewing figures from all platforms available, I’d only really take note of them personally.

[Alex_Patel]

I think you are mostly right here.

TK has come across as slightly unhinged lately and that’s a bit off putting. His bizzare comment on UT and Cena, his slamming WWE for hiring rapists and then Flair, his constant surprises that seem to underwhelm and idiotic dream matches with Andrade…I mean he’s done a lot wrong. He’s not as likeable as he used to be. He seems either on drugs or just a bit unstable.

However he’s still putting out the best PPVs, the best Tv show and the best matches. He’s got some great storylines and probably the storyline of the year in MJF and Cole. He’s got long term plans too (Emi vs Saraya etc). So the product is actually good and probably the best and most cohesive wrestling product.

But he’s not as likeable. So people are turning against him I feel more than AEW

[MarkP]

I think the drug allegations are ridiculous. He’s a message board wrestling fan who is also a workaholic, who happens to be in a position many of us could only dream of.

I feel he’s a lot more “likeable” than the vast majority of people who are or who have held similar positions.

He’s not a smooth con man like Triple H or Nick Kahn. He is rough around the edges on social media. But it definitely feels he’s way more genuine and honest than his peers.

He talks shit on social media. It’s not a good look. Again, no different than what Vince, Heyman, and Bischoff all did when they were in second place.

[Alex_Patel]

Yes agree the drug stuff is overblown and more about how he looks which is unfair.

I think the problem is here’s a guy who owns multiple sports franchises and really should know better.

I definitely think he’s more likeable than Vince but I’m not sure he’s more likeable than HHH or Shawn. Like they are actual wrestlers the fans have a connection with who speak well and talk about being all about the fans.he’s kind of a spoiled rich kid in a lot of ways.

Whether it’s a con by HHH or not, Tony’s more about making sure that the fans recognize his product is the best. And he consistently feel the need to point out what he’s doing is great and what others are doing is not. It’s a little bit different.

Again I agree he has the best product out there. Just wish he didn’t have to keep telling me that

[MarkP]

I’ve always found Hunter and Shawn to be incredibly slimy people. Going back to the late 90’s. They are both workers, and know how to play an audience.

They’re currently playing the role of fan favorite bookers.

Also, don’t be annoyed at a promoter for promoting their company as the best. That’s literally their job! Haha

[kliq]

@Alex_Patel

his slamming WWE for hiring rapists and then Flair,

Yep, definitely a hypocrisy here.

I think Tony cares a lot, and I think for the most part he does a great job, he’s definitely the perfect booker for the IWC. With that said, he definitely rubs many the wrong way with his childish antics and as long as he’s creating tribalism, I think he’s limiting his companies ability to grow and take a greater chunk of the market share.