10 Reasons WWE Raw Is Lucky To Still Be On The Air
1. On Demand?
Monday Night Raw's continued existence in the modern age of television is yet another example of the inherent genius behind Vince McMahon's tax-dodging 'Sports Entertainment' mantra still in use today.
He's used and abused both genres as and when they've suited him best since coining the term during his 1980s expansion, but WWE's continued placement as a live sporting exhibition has ensured a steady (if decreasing) number for USA Network on Monday Nights even against NFL ratings-gobblers.
It's still a show that's hard to miss, even when it's hard to watch - three hours is too f*cking long for starters, even when the creative is exceptional. But it's also immune to the type of catch-up and binging that results in many shows tanking in their original slots before finding a second life on DVD, On Demand and various streaming services.
It's reliant more than ever on its habitual viewers, but has galvanised them enough through the WWE's vast archives that most are willing to hang on to the new product for one of the old ones they can re-watch again and again.