Originally published at Friday Night SmackDown ranks behind NBA Play-In Tournament
Friday Night SmackDown finished behind the NBA programming this past week.
The April 19 episode of SmackDown averaged 2,333,000 viewers and 828,000 (0.63) in the 18-49 demographic, per Wrestlenomics and Sports Media Watch.
The audience declined by seven percent while the core demo audience decreased by seventeen percent from last week. It was SmackDown’s lowest figures since March 29
The show aired against back-to-back NBA games in the Play-In Tournament with the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat (2.25 million and 0.73 in the demo) on ESPN and the Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans (2.52 million and 0.90). The latter game aired against the final half-hour of SmackDown.
The PFL card on ESPN began at 9:30 p.m. ET and averaged 454,000 viewers and 0.15 in the demo.
In Canada, SmackDown averaged 226,800 viewers and 84,600 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360, which represented decreases of nineteen and fifteen percent respectively from the prior week. SmackDown was only behind coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays vs. San Diego Padres in terms of sports programming on Friday.
SmackDown included a Women’s title defense by Bayley against Naomi, and a #1 contenders match involving AJ Styles and LA Knight to determine the title challenger for Cody Rhodes at Backlash.