The top story for the Feb. 13 Wrestling Observer Newsletter contained the following business comparisons for both WWE and TNA for the dates of August 2011 through December 2011. Here’s a look at how those months did for both companies in terms of attendance, gates, house shows, ratings and PPVs when compared to the same time frame in 2010:
AUGUST BUSINESS COMPARISONS
WWE:
Estimated average attendance 8/10 4,206*
Estimated average attendance 8/11 4,474 (+6.4%)
Estimated average gate 8/10 $145,555*
Estimated average gate 8/11 $174,674 (+20.0%)
Percentage of house shows sold out 8/10 10.0*
Percentage of house shows sold out 8/11 5.9
Average Raw rating 8/10 3.33
Average Raw rating 8/11 3.14 (-5.7%)
Average Smackdown rating 8/10 1.70
Average Smackdown rating 8/11 1.88*** (+10.6%)
*Overseas shows not included in averages
**Because one Raw episode aired on July 4th the average is misleading. Throwing that show out the average was 3.12
***Because one Smackdown episode aired on Tuesday, the average is misleading. Throwing that show out the average would be 1.82 and increase over the previous year would be 7.1%
August 2010 SummerSlam (14,178 sellout/$922,600 live gate/349,000 buys/est. $6.40 million PPV revenue)
August 2011 SummerSlam (17,404 sellout/14,200 paid/$925,000 live gate/296,000 buys/est. $5.25 million PPV revenue)
Est. PPV buys -15.2%; Overall event revenue -14.8%
TNA:
Estimated average attendance 8/10 1,100
Estimated average attendance 8/11 1,100 (+0.0%)
Average Impact rating 8/10 1.10
Average Impact rating 8/11 1.12 (+1.8%)
Hardcore Justice 2010: Est. 20,000 buys
Hardcore Justice 2011: Est. 8,000 buys
SEPTEMBER BUSINESS COMPARISONS
WWE:
Estimated average attendance 9/10 4,692*
Estimated average attendance 9/11 4,271* (-9.0%)
Estimated average gate 9/10 $165,750*
Estimated average gate 9/11 $160,447* (-3.2%%)
Percentage of house shows sold out 9/10 0.0*
Percentage of house shows sold out 9/11 3.7*
Average Raw rating 9/10 2.89
Average Raw rating 9/11 2.91 (+0.7%)
Average Smackdown rating 9/10 1.70
Average Smackdown rating 9/11 1.96 (+15.3%)
*Overseas shows not included in averages
September 2010 Night of Champions (13,851 sellout/12,500 paid/$782,205/165,000 buys/est. $2.93 million)
September 2011 Night of Champions (11,000/$700,000/161,000 buys/est. $2.86 million)
Buys -2.4%; Overall event revenue -4.0%
TNA:
Estimated average attendance 9/10 985
Estimated average attendance 9/11 759 (-22.9%)
Impact rating 9/10 1.09
Impact rating 9/11 1.11 (+1.8%)
2010: No Surrender estimated buys 9,500
2011: No Surrender estimated buys 9,000
Buys -5.3%
OCTOBER BUSINESS COMPARISONS
WWE:
Estimated average attendance 10/10 5,208*
Estimated average attendance 10/11 4,607* (-11.5%)
Estimated average gate 10/10 $195,074*
Estimated average gate 10/11 $168,214* (-13.8%)
Percentage of house shows sold out 10/10 8.3*
Percentage of house shows sold out 10/11 0.0*
Average Raw rating 10/10 3.12
Average Raw rating 10/11 3.15 (+1.0%)
Average Smackdown rating 10/10 1.77
Average Smackdown rating 10/11 2.12 (+19.8%)
*Overseas shows not included in averages
October 2010 Hell in a Cell (7,500/$460,000/210,000 buys/est. $3.73 million PPV revenue)
October 2010 Bragging Rights (9,000/7,000 paid/$450,000/137,000 buys/est. $2.43 million PPV revenue)
October 2010 Hell in a Cell (9,400/7,500 paid/$475,000/172,000 buys/est. $3.05 million PPV revenue)
October 2010: Vengeance (8,000/$450,000/137,000 buys/est. $2.43 million PPV revenue)
PPV buys -11.0%; Overall PPV event revenue – 9.3%
TNA:
Estimated average attendance 10/10 704
Estimated average attendance 10/11 867 (+23.2%)
Average Impact rating 10/10 1.26
Average Impact rating 10/11 1.14 (-9.5%)
Bound for Glory estimated buys: 39,000
Bound for Glory estimated buys: 23,000
Buys – 41.0%
NOVEMBER BUSINESS COMPARISONS
WWE:
Estimated average attendance 11/10 5,000*
Estimated average attendance 11/11 5,429* (+8.6%)
Estimated average gate 11/10 $185,190*
Estimated average gate 11/11 $184,571 (-0.3%)
Percentage of house shows sold out 11/10 0.0*
Percentage of house shows sold out 11/11 0.0*
Average Raw rating 11/10 3.17
Average Raw rating 11/11 3.12 (-1.6%)
Average Smackdown rating 11/10 1.73
Average Smackdown rating 11/11 2.05 (+18.5%)
*Overseas show not included in averages
November 2010 Survivor Series (8,000/$510,000/est. 244,000 buys/est. $4.31 million PPV revenue)
November 2011 Survivor Series (16,749 sellout/13,500 paid/$1 million/280,000 buys/est. $4.97 million PPV revenue)
Buys +14.8%; Overall event revenue +21.8%
TNA:
Estimated average attendance 11/10 917
Estimated average attendance 11/11 975 (+6.3%)
Average Impact rating 11/10 1.06
Average Impact rating 11/11 1.17 (+10.4%)
2010 Turning Point: Est. 13,000 buys
2011 Turning Point: Est. 10,000 buys
Buys -23.1%
DECEMBER BUSINESS COMPARISONS
WWE:
Estimated average attendance 12/10 5,809
Estimated average attendance 12/11 6,455 (+11.1%)
Estimated average gate 12/10 $217,086
Estimated average gate 12/11 $256,818 (+18.3%)
Percentage of house shows sold out 12/10 0.0
Percentage of house shows sold out 12/11 4.5
Average Raw rating 12/10 3.15
Average Raw rating 12/11 2.91 (-7.6%)
Average Smackdown rating 12/10 1.84
Average Smackdown rating 12/11 2.03 (+10.3%)
December 2010: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (11,500/$700,000/est. 195,000 buys/est. $3.43 million PPV revenue)
December 2011: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (8,000/$500,000/est. 182,000 buys/est. $3.23 million PPV revenue)
Buys -6.7% Overall event revenue -9.7%
TNA:
Estimated average attendance 12/11 1,450
Average Impact rating 12/10 1.08
Average Impact rating 12/11 1.11 (+2.8%)
December 2010 Final Resolution est. 9,000 buys
December 2011 Final Resolution est. 7,000 buys
Buys -22.2%
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For the full report and extensive notes, check out the Feb. 13 Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
