By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown finished with 1.927 million viewers for Fox, according to Showbuzzdaily.com. The number was down from the 2.093 million viewership count from the previous episode.
Powell’s POV: Smackdown finished first in the Friday broadcast network battle with a 0.44 rating in the 18-49 demographic, down from to the previous episode’s 0.49 rating in the same demo. The show was preempted in some markets due to local NFL preseason game coverage. The August 13, 2021 edition of Smackdown produced 2.084 million viewers with a 0.58 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
I believe Atlanta and Detroit were the two biggest markets where NFL games were shown instead. 506 Sports lists all the local affiliates for preseason games each week.
Next week Charlotte, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Diego and a few smaller markets will all be preempted.