WWE and MyNetworkTV issued the following press release this evening:
MyNetworkTV® Body Slams Previous Ratings Record
October 6, 2008
Network’s Largest Audience Ever Tunes in to the Premiere of "WWE®Friday Night SmackDown®"
MyNetworkTV Delivers the Most Male Viewers in History of the Network and Tops All Other Broadcast Networks’ Friday Performance in M18-34
NEW YORK – MyNetworkTV was the king of the ring on Friday night as the most viewers in the history of the network tuned-in for the two-hour all-star debut of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” announced Greg Meidel, president of MyNetworkTV. The network premiere also delivered the most M18-34 (1.2) and M18-49 (1.3) viewers in MNT history, as “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” won the night in the coveted M18-34 demo, besting the closest broadcast network competitor by +33%.
3.2 million total viewers (P2+) (1.9 HH rtg) tuned-in to the MyNetworkTV telecast of “WWE Friday Night SmackDown.” The Superstar-studded premiere garnered MyNetworkTV a 217% ratings increase in HH and 233% in A18-49 over the same Friday last year.
In making the announcement, Meidel stated, “The all-star kick-off of ‘WWE Friday Night SmackDown,’ on its new home on MyNetworkTV was a knockout. We look forward to the edge of your seat storylines and Superstar matches that the WWE has in store this season.”
For the first time ever on broadcast television, it was a night of Champion vs. Champion including a “Triple Threat Match” between WWE Champion Triple H®, World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho®and ECW®Champion Matt Hardy™ with Triple H coming out on top.
Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President of Marketing for WWE, added, “Friday's ratings performance was just further evidence that WWE builds networks having been a ratings driver for Spike TV, CW and UPN in the past.”
“WWE Friday Night SmackDown” is presented on Friday nights at 8 PM (ET/PT) on MyNetworkTV.
** AFTER YOU READ THIS ARTICLE PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD ***
* Click the "Like" button at the top of this post and "Tweet" it if you have Twitter!
* Also, you can find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WrestlingNewsWorld and on Twitter at Twitter.com/wnwnews!
READER TIPS: Posting Comments | Submissions
Want The Inside Line To Pro Wrestling? - Join WNW Premium