10 Reasons WWE's Audience Has Dropped 20% In 12 Months

6. Switch In PPV Model

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WWE.com

The WWE Network shouldn't really have any bearing on Raw's viewership, but the shift away from the traditional PPV model has had a subtle effect on the audience's viewing philosophy.

Under the old way, it was important to tune in every week and assess if the upcoming super-show was worth parting with upwards on $40. The build-up was just important as the culmination.

Now, with many of WWE's paying audience instead opting for a rolling subscription to the company's OOT service, there's far less reason to be invested in television. This might seem illogical: surely anyone prepared to pay $10 (OK, $9.99) for a wrestling VOD platform is the sort who would follow the product religiously?

Perhaps, and many do. But many others know they've already paid for the upcoming event, so they're determined to watch it regardless - you can't overstate the importance of value. As a consequence, watching Raw is no longer a priority - and with two three hour pay-per-views guaranteed per month, who can blame them for giving it a miss?

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.