While the patriotic nature of the “Tribute to the Troops” show makes the ratings performance more trivial than usual, such viewership data still serves to measure WWE’s relevance in pop culture and predict future interest in airing the annual program on national television.
This year’s special drew 3.39 million viewers, according to a report by MediaWeek’s Marc Berman. That total viewership figure – and its 1.05 in the adults 18-49 demographic – placed WWE’s program in fourth for the 9PM time slot Saturday night.
On a positive note, the program did defeat NBC’s 8PM airing of “Crusoe” (2.9 million viewers). It also tied ABC’s 8PM airing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in the 18-49 demographic, so it was not the night’s worst ratings performer, although it was in its time slot. Most importantly, its audience increased from start to finish; the show drew 3.32 million viewers from 9-9:30 and 3.45 million from 9:30-10.
