Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2021/11/22/smackdown-drops-against-lakers-vs-celtics-news-coverage/
With a stronger night of programming from ABC, SmackDown finished third among network programming with a drop in its demo figure.
The November 19th edition of the show from Hartford averaged 2,064,000 and approximately 684,000 (0.52) in the 18-49 demographic, per Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and Showbuzz Daily.
SmackDown finished #3 among network programming behind ABC’s 20/20 and Shark Tank.
The episode went against a significant NBA game between the L.A. Lakers and Boston Celtics that was the top program on cable Friday night with 1,735,000 viewers and 0.59 in 18-49.
With the verdict on Kyle Rittenhouse being read on Friday afternoon, cable news coverage saw a spike with Fox News occupying seven of the top ten spots among cable originals.
SmackDown only fell 2 percent in viewership and dropped 6 percent in 18-48. However, it was still the show’s lowest overall audience since July 30th (excluding the shows on FS1) and its lowest 18-49 figure since October 8th.
The show was the go-home edition before the Survivor Series and featured an advertised match between Sasha Banks and Shotzi and King Woods confronting Roman Reigns.
Over the past three weeks on Fox, SmackDown is averaging 2,087,000 viewers and 717,000 in 18-49.
In Canada, SmackDown averaged 159,000 viewers and 75,200 in the 25-54 demographic on Sportsnet 360. The show went against the CFL game between Montreal and Ottawa and the NHL game between Winnipeg and Vancouver. The Toronto Raptors game did not begin until after SmackDown ended, so WWE finished sixth in overall viewers and third in 25-54 among sports programming that night.
It was SmackDown’s highest overall viewership in Canada since October 15th.