WWE SmackDown Viewership Sinks For 7/2 Broadcast

Overnight viewership for Friday night's WWE SmackDown fell quite a ways from a week ago, and marks one of the lowest overnights in the show's near two years on FOX.

Per SpoilerTV, the July 2 SmackDown averaged 1,741,000 viewers across its two hour time slot, down 118,000 viewers (over six percent) from last week's 1,859,000 viewers. And last week was down from the 1,926,000 viewers from the prior week.

Hour one averaged a comparatively-paltry 1,699,000 viewers, while the second hour ballooned to 1,782,000 viewers.

In 18-49, SmackDown drew a .40 rating, down from the modern norm of a .50.

SmackDown faced competition from game three of the NHL Stanley Cup, which aired on the primary NBC network (as opposed to the NBC Sports cable channel). Holiday travel for Independence Day weekend could also be another factor.

The sharp second hour increase could perhaps be attributed to the hockey game turning into a blowout, as the Tampa Bay Lightning went on to rout the Montreal Canadiens 6-3.

SmackDown Overnight Viewership, Last 10 Weeks

* April 30: 1,923,000

* May 7: 2,157,000

* May 14: 1,800,000

* May 21: 1,830,000

* May 28: 1,755,000

* June 4: 1,792,000

* June 11: 1,853,000

* June 18: 1,926,000

* June 25: 1,859,000

* July 2: 1,741,000

10 WEEK AVERAGE: 1,863,600 (was previously 1,894,000)