WWE SmackDown Viewership Dips Amid College Football Playoff Competition

NEW YORK — The Jan. 10 episode of WWE SmackDown saw a dip in viewership, averaging 1,436,000 viewers and a 0.40 rating among adults aged 18-49, according to Nielsen data. The numbers represent a 6% decline in total viewers and an 11% drop in the key demographic compared to the previous week.

The episode faced stiff competition from the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas, which aired on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. The football game dominated the night with nearly 21 million viewers and a rating above 5.0 in the 18-49 demographic. SmackDown, which aired on the USA Network, placed second in the demo among Friday’s primetime originals.

This marked the second week of SmackDown’s new three-hour format, following its move from FOX to USA Network. The show’s performance in its extended format remains under scrutiny, as it adjusts to cable viewership patterns and increased competition.

“It’s difficult to draw any conclusions about SmackDown’s extra hour from last week because the show will rarely face competition like it did last Friday,” said a wrestling analyst. “The College Football Playoff is a massive event, and it’s pretty much impossible to draw any conclusions from a two-week sample.”

For the night, SmackDown’s viewership was 1% lower than the trailing four-week average of 1,455,000 viewers. The 18-49 rating was also 5% below the four-week average of 0.42. Despite the drop, the show maintained its position as a strong performer in the cable landscape.

The episode featured key storylines leading up to the Royal Rumble, including intense confrontations between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, as well as successful title defenses by other WWE stars. Fans can expect further developments as WWE continues to build momentum toward its next major pay-per-view event.