By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
The February 10 edition of WWE Raw on Netflix finished the week with 2.8 million global views, according to Netflix.com/tudum. The viewership count was up from the 3.1 million global viewership listed for the February 3 episode.
Powell’s POV: The February 10 Raw finished eighth on the Netflix chart for most viewed weekly shows after finishing seventh the week before. The end of football season hasn’t led to the usual boost for Raw’s numbers in the United States unless the international numbers have dropped simultaneously. Barring the occasional press release, the Raw global numbers will be released eight days after the show streams if it finishes in the top ten for the week.
Is this at about half what it premiered at? I can’t remember. These are definitely better numbers than on USA, but I keep feeling like as good as the shows have been (at least IMHO) they’re missing that can’t-miss feeling. I realize that’s a hard thing to do in the days of on-demand streaming and “recording” live shows… but even so, these aren’t all LIVE views we’re talking about so a good chunk of these likely weren’t appointments (right? I’m assuming this number is how it did through the week?)
RAW needs something to make people want to watch, if not live, then by the end of the week. And I think the way to do that is they need something that people get buzzed about and talk about to the point where if you missed it when it happened you’re going to go check it out on demand before the week is over.
I personally believe WWE is generally doing right by its fans. And that’s great! But if they want to have a larger cultural influence – which the move to Netflix definitely suggests to me – then they need something on the level of a Mike Tyson moment.
It’s Wrestlemania season. Perfect time to do it.