The CW Network Delivers Largest Audience for WWE NXT Since October 2023
NXT’s CW Debut on Broadcast Television Drew 895,000 Total Viewers, +44% Over Last Week’s Episode on Cable
Premiere Was Strongest Programming on The CW This Year Among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54
Total Viewers Up More Than 100% for CW Affiliates in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit
BURBANK, CA (OCTOBER 2, 2024) – Last night’s WWE NXT broadcast television debut on The CW Network delivered the largest audience for the weekly program since October 2023, with 895,000 Total Viewers, up +44% compared to last week’s episode on cable TV. The premiere peaked at 965,000 total viewers from 8:15-8:30 p.m. and was the #1 telecast on The CW this year among adults 25-54 (406,000) and adults 18-49 (354,000).
Fans following WWE NXT’s move to The CW saw Trick Williams regain the NXT Championship and featured guest appearances by WWE Superstars CM Punk, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The episode fueled triple digit increases compared to The CW’s Tuesday primetime season average, up +143% in total viewers, and delivered triple digit increases in total viewers for major markets including New York (WPIX-TV), Los Angeles (KTLA-TV), Dallas (KDAF-TV) and Detroit (WKBD-TV) versus last Tuesday’s primetime programming.
Close on the heels of The CW’s premiere of NASCAR Xfinity Series racing September 20, WWE NXT’s successful debut on The CW marks the second impressive premiere in as many weeks for The CW, again demonstrating that viewers are increasingly turning into The CW for live sports.
In November 2023, The CW Network and WWE announced a five-year agreement to bring NXT wrestling to broadcast television for the first time ever. As the exclusive home of NXT, The CW will air 52 live weekly events throughout the season. Launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NXT has aired weekly since 2012 and features the brightest young talent in sports entertainment. Nearly 90 percent of the participants in last year’s WrestleMania were developed under the NXT banner. Led by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, NXT is extremely popular with younger audiences.
WWE NXT continues next Tuesday, October 8 (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT) on The CW with a special live event from St. Louis featuring a guest appearance by WWE Superstar Randy Orton.
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About The CW Network
The CW is America’s fifth major broadcast network and is available to 100% of U.S. television households. The CW delivers primetime entertainment programming and more than 500 hours of sports programming annually including LIV Golf, ACC football and basketball games, Pac-12 football games, “Inside the NFL,” WWE NXT and NASCAR Xfinity Series racing. The free, ad-supported CW App is widely available on all major platforms. The CW App is home to The CW’s primetime programming, live streaming of LIV Golf tournaments, and a library of entertaining film and television content. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and the largest CW affiliate group. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.
The CW Media Contacts:
Beth Feldman Rob Moynihan
646/563-8334 760/519-5543
Beth.Feldman@cwtv.com Rob.Moynihan@cwtv.com