In a significant milestone for both WWE and Netflix, the first episode of “WWE Raw” to air on the streaming platform attracted an average of 2.6 million viewers in the U.S. on Monday. This marks a substantial increase compared to its viewership on USA Network, where in 2024, “Raw” averaged about 1.64 million viewers per episode.
The episode in question, which aired at the start of 2024 on USA Network, had drawn 1.75 million viewers, with the year’s peak viewership hitting 2.36 million for an episode in early April.
Also Read: LA Wildfires Force Oscars Nominations to be Postponed
Under a new 10-year, $5 billion media agreement between WWE and Netflix, “Raw” is now available globally. According to Front Office Sports, the Monday episode garnered an impressive 4.9 million viewers worldwide on Netflix. This global broadcast was highlighted by WWE legend John Cena, who noted during a promotional segment, “This is the first time in history that Raw is broadcast simultaneously around the world.”
Netflix’s venture into sports broadcasting continues to expand, following high viewer engagement from events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match in November, and the unprecedented streaming success of two NFL games on Christmas Day, which were the highest-rated NFL games ever on a streaming service.
This partnership not only signifies Netflix’s growing footprint in live sports but also positions “WWE Raw” for a potentially broader international fanbase in the coming years.
Key Points:
- WWE “Raw” Debut on Netflix: The first episode on Netflix attracted 2.6 million U.S. viewers.
- Viewership Comparison: Averaged 1.64 million viewers on USA Network in 2024; the equivalent episode in 2024 had 1.75 million viewers on USA Network.
- Peak Viewership: The highest-rated episode of “Raw” in 2024 on USA Network was in early April with 2.36 million viewers.
- Global Broadcast: Under a 10-year, $5 billion deal, “Raw” now streams globally on Netflix, with 4.9 million viewers worldwide for the Monday episode.
- John Cena’s Comment: Highlighted the historic global simulcast of “Raw.”
- Netflix’s Sports Expansion: Following successes with boxing and NFL games, this deal adds to Netflix’s growing sports portfolio.
