Pwinsider is reporting that AEW Dynamite’s decrease in viewership is attributed to the show airing live coast-to-coast on TBS without delay on the West Coast feed.
The absence of the time delay has contributed to the drop in the audience. AEW officials were aware of the potential decrease in viewership due to the change in broadcast schedule.
In a surprising turn of events, AEW VP of Talent Development, Pat Buck, was absent backstage during the latest episode of Dynamite. The reason for his absence, which has sparked much speculation, remains unknown.
Action News Jax is reporting that AEW has found itself amid a heated controversy over the use of seat fillers at its recent shows. The matter quickly gained traction on social media and has raised significant concerns.
The City of Jacksonville has even requested the Military Affairs and Veterans Department hire approximately 50 people per night to fill seats at AEW TV events at Daily’s Place.
With a capacity of about 5,500 people, the venue saw 2,459 people in attendance for Dynamite this week. AEW will also hold Rampage and Collision at the venue tomorrow (April 27), with approximately 325 tickets still available.
Seat fillers are not uncommon in the wrestling industry. Previous events by AEW, WWE, and WCW have used seat fillers to fill gaps in significant camera angles.
WWE reportedly had around 100 seat fillers for both nights of WrestleMania 40. The seat fillers were required to wear Philadelphia Eagles gear.
It is worth noting that the seat filler tickets at the Daily’s Place show this week were made available to military members. One veteran, Travis Akers, shared an account of receiving an email to attend the show as a seat filler.
I see some posts mocking @AEW for using seat fillers on Wednesday night’s #AEWDynamite at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville. I was one of the veterans who received the email from the City requesting fillers. It was a request for only 50 and to simply fill seats ringside if the ticket…
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) April 25, 2024
AEW Dynamite’s Decrease in Viewership Linked to Live Coast-to-Coast Airing
In a surprising turn of events, All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) flagship show, Dynamite, has experienced a decrease in viewership. According to Pwinsider, this decline can be attributed to the show airing live coast-to-coast on TBS without any delay on the West Coast feed.
The absence of a time delay has seemingly contributed to the drop in audience numbers. AEW officials were aware of the potential decrease in viewership due to the change in the broadcast schedule. However, it remains to be seen how they will address this issue and whether any adjustments will be made to regain lost viewers.
Meanwhile, another intriguing development within AEW involves the absence of Pat Buck, the Vice President of Talent Development, during the latest episode of Dynamite. This unexpected absence has sparked much speculation among fans and insiders, with the reason behind it remaining unknown for now.
Adding to the controversy surrounding AEW, Action News Jax reports that the promotion has found itself embroiled in a heated debate over the use of seat fillers at its recent shows. This matter quickly gained traction on social media platforms and has raised significant concerns among fans and critics alike.
The City of Jacksonville has reportedly requested the Military Affairs and Veterans Department to hire around 50 people per night as seat fillers for AEW TV events at Daily’s Place. This move has raised eyebrows, as it suggests that the actual attendance figures may not accurately reflect the popularity of AEW’s shows.
Daily’s Place, with a capacity of approximately 5,500 people, saw a mere 2,459 attendees for the latest episode of Dynamite. Moreover, AEW is set to hold Rampage and Collision at the same venue tomorrow, with around 325 tickets still available for purchase.
While the use of seat fillers is not uncommon in the wrestling industry, with previous events by AEW, WWE, and WCW employing them to fill gaps in significant camera angles, this recent controversy has drawn attention to the practice. WWE, for instance, reportedly had around 100 seat fillers for both nights of WrestleMania 40, who were required to wear Philadelphia Eagles gear.
It is worth noting that the seat filler tickets at the Daily’s Place show this week were made available to military members. One veteran, Travis Akers, shared his experience on Twitter, revealing that he received an email from the City requesting seat fillers. Akers clarified that only 50 veterans were requested to fill ringside seats if tickets were not claimed.
As AEW continues to navigate these challenges, it remains to be seen how they will address the decrease in viewership and the controversy surrounding the use of seat fillers. Fans and industry insiders eagerly await further developments and potential resolutions to these issues.