Quote:
Originally Posted by SlickyTrickyDamon
Smackdown replay gets more viewers than Dynashit first viewing.
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That’s pretty harrowing. People will excuse it in time. They’ll find ways to argue a FOX/TNT gulf, or focus on a demo that is convenient for the argument, but there are some pretty alarming signs for this (no, not “sky is falling!”, but just think).
Warner has plenty of content in the library they can play in place of Dynamite and/or Rampage. Demos are not entirely worthless, okay? People who focus on the people who talk about viewership simplify things and miss the actual conversation.
The wrestling audience, the key demo even, has always been looked down at by advertisers. We know this. How audiences are targeted has changed with the times. 18-49 year old men are no longer directing all economic influences in the family dynamic. They may or may not be in a position to spend frivolously. But even if you want to peel that back and identify the 18-49 demo as something that, even in small amounts, is comparatively highly reached by AEW, you have to contend with how important that demo is
to them. One of the reasons the demo was ever highly valued (outside the disposable income argument and them being “trendy”), is their frivolous nature. Having a loyal audience in that bracket allows advertisers to consistently reach them. But what happens if they go? What happens if they can’t watch when it is most important for advertisers?
If AEW loses men 18-49, what is going to proper them up? Women? Older viewers? Children? It’s a big chunk of their audience, and if they get toppled there, they don’t really have any support demos to appeal to in lieu.
That and NHL and MLB being more valuable. That and the possibility that Big Bang reruns could be more financially viable for advertisers. That and their alleged ad revenue split. Executives aren’t always going to be AEW’s dick because of 47 year old viewers. And if those viewers aren’t there? Yikes.