WWE Blames Filming At The Performance Center For Ratings Slump
Here's why RAW and SmackDown are moving to the Amway Center.
The days of WWE pre-taping shows in the Performance Center are coming to an end, with multiple sources reporting that the promotion will move RAW, SmackDown, and pay-per-views over to a live filming schedule at the Orlando Magic's Amway Center from 21 August, potentially adding virtual fans to compensate for the lack of real ones.
Dave Meltzer covers the subject in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing that WWE sees this move as a way to ease their ratings problems - particularly amongst younger viewers.
Per the writeup, WWE officials feel that part of the ratings slump comes from not broadcasting live, with others suggesting the Performance Center's small size and darkness contribute as well. They intend to bring a more elaborate production setup to the Amway Center. Extra bells and whistles will be in place, increasing costs, but hopefully (in the company's eyes) turning around the seemingly chronic declines in younger demographics.
Last week got so bad that AEW Dynamite defeated WWE RAW in the 18-34 demographic, despite RAW almost doubling Dynamite's total viewership.
Whether or not the change of scenery has a positive impact remains to be seen, though most viewers will welcome the switch after five months of the PC.