As we previously reported here on eWn, the decrease in viewership for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite can be attributed to the unusual airtime on TBS.
AEW Dynamite aired live coast-to-coast instead of the usual delay in the west coast feed. This broadcast change was not surprising to AEW officials, who were aware of the potential impact on viewership.
AEW’s broadcast partner, Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed satisfaction with this week’s numbers, considering the various obstacles that were out of AEW’s hands, such as the altered broadcast time and the audio issues during the broadcast.
AEW Dynamite drew an average audience of 683,000 viewers with a 0.23 rating in the key demo.
Pwinsider is reporting that according to a WBD source, AEW had stiff competition this week from the NBA and NHL Playoffs, and Dynamite still ranked sixth for the night for cable original programming.
When the NBA coverage on TNT was removed, three of the shows that were higher than AEW Dynamite were eliminated, which is internally considered to be in the same broadcast family as WBD.
The source also stated that only NHL Playoff coverage on ESPN ranked higher than AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, with the wrestling show still ranking higher than all the other original cable programming in the key ratings demo.
The source also addressed the issues with the West Coast feed not airing at 8:00 PM PST due to the NBA Playoff coverage and the audio issues on TBS.
The audio issues with AEW Dynamite on TBS resulted from the “TBS uplink” itself, and they were reportedly not caused on AEW’s end.
As a result, WBD was “really happy” with this week’s numbers when they came in, and they also expect them to improve when factoring in +3 and +7 viewings through DVR and more.
AEW Dynamite Faces Decreased Viewership Due to Unusual Airtime on TBS
In a surprising turn of events, this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite saw a decrease in viewership, which can be attributed to the unusual airtime on TBS. The decision to air the show live coast-to-coast instead of the usual delay in the west coast feed was not taken lightly by AEW officials, who were well aware of the potential impact on viewership.
Despite the decrease in viewership, AEW’s broadcast partner, Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed satisfaction with this week’s numbers. They acknowledged the various obstacles that were out of AEW’s hands, such as the altered broadcast time and the audio issues during the show.
According to Pwinsider, a source from Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that AEW faced stiff competition from the NBA and NHL Playoffs this week. Despite this, AEW Dynamite still managed to rank sixth for the night among cable original programming. Interestingly, when the NBA coverage on TNT was removed, three shows that were initially higher than AEW Dynamite were eliminated. This is significant as TNT is considered to be in the same broadcast family as Warner Bros. Discovery.
The source further stated that only NHL Playoff coverage on ESPN ranked higher than AEW Dynamite on Wednesday. This means that AEW’s wrestling show still outperformed all other original cable programming in the key ratings demographic.
Addressing the issues with the West Coast feed not airing at 8:00 PM PST due to NBA Playoff coverage and the audio problems on TBS, the source clarified that the audio issues were not caused by AEW but rather by the “TBS uplink” itself. This suggests that AEW was not at fault for the technical difficulties experienced during the broadcast.
Despite these challenges, Warner Bros. Discovery was reportedly “really happy” with this week’s numbers and expects them to improve when factoring in delayed viewings through DVR and other platforms. This indicates that the overall viewership for AEW Dynamite might be higher than initially reported.
While the decrease in viewership for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite is noteworthy, it is important to consider the unique circumstances surrounding the broadcast. With stiff competition from major sporting events and technical difficulties beyond their control, AEW should be commended for still ranking among the top cable original programming for the night. As fans eagerly await future episodes, it remains to be seen how AEW will continue to navigate these challenges and maintain their dedicated audience.