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WWE’s transition of Monday Night Raw from the USA Network to Netflix has prompted a positive response, reassured by early viewership statistics. Following its move to the streaming service, the show’s initial airing indicates a significant uptick in ratings compared to the previous year.
Recent data from VideoAmp reveals that Monday Night Raw achieved an impressive average of 2.6 million households for its debut on Netflix, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. This figure surpasses more than double the audience numbers the show received on the USA Network, which averaged around 1.2 million households in 2024. Such a jump in viewership is a promising sign for Netflix, which secured a $5 billion deal for the rights to the show last year.
The show also saw substantial growth among the crucial 18-49 demographic, with viewership in this category doubling from the previous year. Globally, while not setting records, the streaming performance was encouraging, recording 4.9 million total views on Monday and Tuesday in regions served by Netflix, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, and parts of Latin America. Although this number is modest compared to popular English-language series averaging over 15.5 million views within ten weeks, it is important to note that Raw is still expanding its availability. Currently, 92 countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, and South Korea, have yet to have WWE programming made available on the platform.
Netflix’s Strategic Move into Live Programming
Netflix is keen to enhance its presence in live programming, and securing the rights to Monday Night Raw represents a significant step in this direction. The wrestling community is known for its passionate and loyal fanbase, making it a natural fit for the platform to attract these viewers. The initial results are promising, although there is still significant potential for growth as viewers acclimate to the new streaming service. Some fans may have opted to wait and see how the show performed before fully committing, especially given Netflix’s historical issues with live event streaming quality, notably during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight.
In addition to Monday Night Raw, Netflix’s agreement with WWE encompasses exclusive rights to prestigious events and other weekly programming, including Smackdown and NXT. This move aligns with the broader trend of evolving live broadcasts, and the streaming service’s approach to delivering such content will be closely observed as it develops on its new platform.
New episodes of WWE Monday Night Raw will be available for streaming on Mondays, exclusively on Netflix.
Source
movieweb.com