The impact of the NBA playoffs continues to affect programming as SmackDown fell to its lowest 18-49 audience of the year.
The May 23 episode of SmackDown averaged 1,398,000 viewers and 442,000 viewers (0.33) in the 18-49 demographic on the USA Network, the night before Saturday Night’s Main Event. The program ranked fourth for the night on cable behind the NBA & NHL playoff programming.
Despite the heavy competition from the Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks, SmackDown’s overall audience grew by 8%, but the core demographic fell by 8% and registering its lowest audience of the year in that demo.
It was SmackDown’s second-lowest 18-49 audience since moving to the USA Network last September.
In the 18-49 category, male viewership fell by 4% and female viewership declined by 7% from the previous week’s episode.
The NBA and TNT owned the night with Game 2 of the Pacers vs. Knicks, averaging 5,839,000 viewers and a 1.83 in the core demo. A simulcast of the game on truTV added 813,000 viewers and 0.33 in the demo.
SmackDown also ranked behind Game 2 of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars, which drew 1,398,000 viewers and 0.40 on ESPN.
Data: Programming Insider & Wrestlenomics
