State of the Business: TV ratings, attendance and more

For the week ending May 2, 2025

Rankings for TV ratings

While TV viewership -- offset by changes in household coverage -- may be a reasonable indicator of fan engagement, the ranking of these programs are a more reliable indicator of a program’s media value.

Weekly primetime ranking: P18-49 among cable originals & broadcast
Moving 52-week median, smoothed. Preemptions excluded.

Ranking: Median weekly P18-49 primetime among cable originals & broadcast

Top 100 Primetime telecasts, sorted by P18-49: 7 days beginning Thu Apr 24, 2025 through Wed Apr 30, 2025

Data from Nielsen via Programming Insider

• 1.) 2.17 - NFL DRAFT (First Round) | ESPN, Thu Apr 24

• 2.) 1.40 - NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC (First Round: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors) | ABC, Sat Apr 26

• 3.) 1.22 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Celtics/Magic Gm4) | TNT, Sun Apr 27

• 4.) 1.09 - NFL DRAFT ON ABC (First Round) | ABC, Thu Apr 24

• 5.) 1.02 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets) | TNT, Wed Apr 30

• 6.) 0.92 - NFL DRAFT ON ABC (Second and Third Round) | ABC, Fri Apr 25

• 7.) 0.90 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Pacers/Bucks Gm4) | TNT, Sun Apr 27

• 8.) 0.80 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks) | TNT, Tue Apr 29

• 9.) 0.75 - NFL DRAFT (First Round) | NFL NETWORK, Thu Apr 24

• 10.) 0.73 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons) | TNT, Thu Apr 24

• 11.) 0.67 - SURVIVOR | CBS, Wed Apr 30

• 12.) 0.66 - NFL DRAFT (Second and Third Round) | ESPN2, Fri Apr 25

• 13.) 0.59 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat) | TNT, Mon Apr 28

• 14.) 0.58 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic) | ESPN, Fri Apr 25

• 15.) 0.53 - AMERICAN IDOL | ABC, Sun Apr 27

• 16.) 0.51 - WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN | USA, Fri Apr 25

• 17.) 0.45 - AMERICAN IDOL | ABC, Mon Apr 28

• 18.) 0.39 - NFL DRAFT (Second and Third Round) | NFL NETWORK, Fri Apr 25

• 19.) 0.38 - GEORGIE & MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE | CBS, Thu Apr 24

• 20.) 0.36 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers) | ESPN, Mon Apr 28

• 21.) 0.35 - FIRE COUNTRY | CBS, Fri Apr 25

• 21.) 0.35 - ABC NEWS SPECIAL (President Trump the First 100 Days: The Interview in the Oval Office) | ABC, Tue Apr 29

• 21.) 0.35 - MLB SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL (Philadelphia/Chicago) | ESPN, Sun Apr 27

• 24.) 0.34 - NCIS | CBS, Mon Apr 28

• 25.) 0.33 - CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE | ABC, Wed Apr 30

• 26.) 0.32 - TRACKER | CBS, Sun Apr 27

• 26.) 0.32 - GHOSTS | CBS, Thu Apr 24

• 26.) 0.32 - THE AMAZING RACE | CBS, Wed Apr 30

• 29.) 0.31 - THE NEIGHBORHOOD | CBS, Mon Apr 28

• 29.) 0.31 - POPPA’S HOUSE | CBS, Mon Apr 28

• 31.) 0.29 - NCIS: ORIGINS | CBS, Mon Apr 28

• 31.) 0.29 - THE MASKED SINGER | FOX, Wed Apr 30

• 33.) 0.28 - WILL TRENT | ABC, Tue Apr 29

• 33.) 0.28 - JEOPARDY! MASTERS | ABC, Wed Apr 30

• 35.) 0.26 - THE VOICE | NBC, Mon Apr 28

• 36.) 0.25 - 60 MINUTES | CBS, Sun Apr 27

• 36.) 0.25 - ELSBETH | CBS, Thu Apr 24

• 36.) 0.25 - ST. DENIS MEDICAL | NBC, Tue Apr 29

• 36.) 0.25 - 48 HOURS | CBS, Sat Apr 26

• 40.) 0.24 - WATSON | CBS, Sun Apr 27

• 40.) 0.24 - NIGHT COURT | NBC, Tue Apr 29

• 40.) 0.24 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals) | ESPN, Wed Apr 30

• 40.) 0.24 - UFC FIGHT NIGHT (Machado Garry/Prates) | ESPN2, Sat Apr 26

• 44.) 0.23 - THE EQUALIZER | CBS, Sun Apr 27

• 44.) 0.23 - NBA PLAYOFFS (First Round: Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers) | NBA TV, Tue Apr 29

• 46.) 0.22 - NCIS: SYDNEY | CBS, Fri Apr 25

• 46.) 0.22 - JESSE WATTERS PRIMETIME | FOX NEWS, Mon Apr 28

• 46.) 0.22 - NEXT LEVEL CHEF | FOX, Thu Apr 24

• 46.) 0.22 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (First Round: Gm4 Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators) | TBS, Sat Apr 26

• 50.) 0.21 - CHICAGO FIRE | NBC, Wed Apr 30

• 50.) 0.21 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (First Round: Washington/Montreal Gm4) | TBS, Sun Apr 27

• 50.) 0.21 - AEW: COLLISION | TNT, Sat Apr 26

• 53.) 0.20 - FBI | CBS, Tue Apr 29

• 53.) 0.20 - CHICAGO MED | NBC, Wed Apr 30

• 53.) 0.20 - THE ROOKIE | ABC, Tue Apr 29

• 53.) 0.20 - FBI: MOST WANTED | CBS, Tue Apr 29

• 53.) 0.20 - THE $100000 PYRAMID | ABC, Sun Apr 27

• 53.) 0.20 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs) | ESPN, Tue Apr 29

• 59.) 0.19 - FBI: INTERNATIONAL | CBS, Tue Apr 29

• 59.) 0.19 - CHICAGO PD | NBC, Wed Apr 30

• 61.) 0.18 - LAW & ORDER: SVU | NBC, Thu Apr 24

• 61.) 0.18 - THE AMERICAS | NBC, Sun Apr 27

• 61.) 0.18 - CELEBRITY JEOPARDY! | ABC, Wed Apr 30

• 61.) 0.18 - FARMER WANTS A WIFE | FOX, Thu Apr 24

• 61.) 0.18 - THE LAST OF US (12: Episode 12) | HBO, Sun Apr 27

• 61.) 0.18 - FAMILY GUY | FOX, Sun Apr 27

• 61.) 0.18 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning) | ESPN2, Wed Apr 30

• 61.) 0.18 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (First Round: New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes) | TBS, Tue Apr 29

• 69.) 0.17 - JESSE WATTERS PRIMETIME | FOX NEWS, Wed Apr 30

• 70.) 0.16 - LAW & ORDER | NBC, Thu Apr 24

• 70.) 0.16 - THE VOICE | NBC, Tue Apr 29

• 70.) 0.16 - AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (Missing Persons) | FOX, Mon Apr 28

• 70.) 0.16 - NBA COUNTDOWN | ABC, Sat Apr 26

• 70.) 0.16 - THE SIMPSONS | FOX, Sun Apr 27

• 70.) 0.16 - AEW DYNAMITE | TBS, Wed Apr 30

• 70.) 0.16 - SPORTSCENTER WEEKEND-PM | ESPN, Sun Apr 27

• 70.) 0.16 - KRAPOPOLIS | FOX, Sun Apr 27

• 78.) 0.15 - GUTFELD! | FOX NEWS, Wed Apr 30

• 78.) 0.15 - GUTFELD! | FOX NEWS, Mon Apr 28

• 78.) 0.15 - DATELINE | NBC, Fri Apr 25

• 78.) 0.15 - ELSBETH | CBS, Thu Apr 24

• 78.) 0.15 - 48 HOURS | CBS, Sat Apr 26

• 78.) 0.15 - THE CLEANING LADY | FOX, Tue Apr 29

• 78.) 0.15 - 1000-LB. SISTERS | TLC, Tue Apr 29

• 78.) 0.15 - KRAPOPOLIS | FOX, Wed Apr 30

• 78.) 0.15 - WWE NXT | CW, Tue Apr 29

• 78.) 0.15 - THE GREAT NORTH | FOX, Sun Apr 27

• 88.) 0.14 - JESSE WATTERS PRIMETIME | FOX NEWS, Tue Apr 29

• 88.) 0.14 - HANNITY | FOX NEWS, Wed Apr 30

• 88.) 0.14 - HANNITY | FOX NEWS, Mon Apr 28

• 88.) 0.14 - YES, CHEF | NBC, Mon Apr 28

• 88.) 0.14 - 90 DAY FIANCÉ | TLC, Sun Apr 27

• 88.) 0.14 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (First Round: Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens) | TNT, Fri Apr 25

• 88.) 0.14 - NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (First Round: Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils) | TBS, Fri Apr 25

• 95.) 0.13 - HANNITY | FOX NEWS, Tue Apr 29

• 95.) 0.13 - DATELINE MYSTERY | NBC, Sat Apr 26

• 95.) 0.13 - SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE | NBC, Sat Apr 26

• 95.) 0.13 - THE CURSE OF OAK ISLAND | HISTORY, Tue Apr 29

• 95.) 0.13 - ALERT: MISSING PERSONS UNIT | FOX, Tue Apr 29

• 95.) 0.13 - AMERICA’S MOST WANTED | FOX, Mon Apr 28

TV ratings, year-over-year-comparisons

Annual averages through Apr 30 in each year

Total viewership (P2+), live+same-day viewership. Preemptions excluded.

Annual averages through Apr 30 in each year
P18-49, live+same-day viewership. Preemptions excluded.

Year-over-year: Total viewership (P2+), live+same-day
Preemptions are excluded. To account for potential seasonality, the latest data for the current year is compared only to data as of the same day of the prior year (rather than comparing the partial current year to the full prior year).

Year-over-year: P18-49, live+same-day

What's the rate of cord-cutting?

The pay TV universe was down about -5% year-over-year in Q3 (July to September 2024), at about 70,700,000 subscribers, down from about 74,600,000 the year prior.

How fast are cable customers cutting the cord? U.S. subscribers to pay TV by carrier.

*Estimate | **Partial estimate. Frontier reports residential subscribers but not commercial subscribers.

This is an estimate by me based on data reported by publicly-traded pay TV carriers (Charter, Comcast, Altice, Cable One, Cogeco, Dish, Verizon, Frontier, Hulu Live TV, Sling and Fubo), as well as estimates for carriers that don't publicly report customers. Notably, this estimate factors in an assumption that YouTube TV is an outlier as one of the few carriers with a growing customer base, and that the service is continuing to gain subscribers at a trajectory consistent with Google’s occasional disclosures about YouTube TV’s number of subscribers. I estimate that YouTube TV now has about 9.5 million subscribers, or 13% of the pay TV universe in the U.S.

Live event attendance

Data source: WrestleTix estimates of tickets distributed

Events this week

Estimated tickets distributed trends for WWE and AEW weekly live events

Note: All four charts have the same vertical axis bounds. Unlike the other three, Collision’s horizontal axis starts with its debut in June 2023. The other three start in July 2021 following the end of touring restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Market-to-market performance over time

WWE: "Was attendance higher or lower than the last time in this city (with the same event type)?"

AEW: "Was attendance higher or lower than the last time in this city (with the same event type)?"

High-performing YouTube highlights

These were selected from WWE and AEW's official YouTube channels, based on being in the top 10 percentile for the channel (WWE or AEW) or the show category (e.g., Raw, Dynamite, etc.) for the trailing 365 days, and having been published within the trailing seven days. Re-release archival matches and full show highlights were excluded (but not full segments).

World Wrestling Entertainment

FULL SEGMENT: Randy Orton challenges John Cena at Backlash: SmackDown, April 25, 2025
Views: 3.507M

FULL MATCH: Sami Zayn suffers Bron Breakker Spear-fest and a Seth Rollins Stomp: Raw, April 28, 2025
Views: 1.603M

R-Truth congratulates John Cena: SmackDown highlights, April 25, 2025
Views: 1.543M

Aleister Black takes out The Miz: SmackDown highlights, April 25, 2025
Views: 1.128M

FULL MATCH: Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar: Backlash 2023
Views: 936k

Jey Uso celebrates career-defining week: WrestleMania 41 Vlog
Views: 852k

The Undertaker threatens Oba Femi's reign: NXT highlights, April 29, 2025
Views: 419k

All Elite Wrestling

Are The Hurt Syndicate finally ready to do business with MJF? | AEW Dynamite, 4/30/25
Views: 406k

Kenny Omega comes to the aid of Swerve Strickland?! | AEW Collision, 4/26/25
Views: 310k

Toni Storm vs TJPW's Miyu Yamashita in an AEW Women's Championship Eliminator! | AEW Dynamite 4/30
Views: 160k

Merchandise

Items that have appeared most frequently in online shops' top sellers listings in the last 7 days.

WWEShop apparel items listed highly on 'Top Sellers' page

ShopAEW items listed highly on 'Top Sellers' page