WWE Raw is more valuable than ever to the USA Network, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. That's because USA's average ratings have dropped, meaning Raw is way above average in the viewership it pulls in. Indeed, Raw is more valuable now than it was two years ago. "It is at this point more important for USA to keep Raw than it would have been two years ago when Raw's numbers were higher," Dave Meltzer writes. That's very interesting. For all the talk of "crisis", the significance of eighteen year lows in the Raw ratings doesn't tell a full story. Raw pulls in three million viewers right now, whereas USA's average is only 1,511,000. The Network is number five in primetime, but would slip to an average of 1,203,000 viewers, and would only be in twelfth place without Raw. That's why WWE is so valuable to USA and why they just added Smackdown, which is set to debut in January and should bring in over two million viewers. Furthermore, Raw has thirty seven new advertisers coming on board, after USA made a big push on how wrestling is family friendly. So despite lower than normal ratings, Raw is in a good position right now. That's why three hours and PG are here to stay.
