NXT close on finalizing move to Tuesday starting after WrestleMania

[cero2k]

I hear you, there’s probably a thing about it behind the scenes and in the advertising, but it’s just not something discussed here, so it’s not something I’ve really ever understood, but the overall point is, who cares about the “key demo” if it’s for advertising revenue only? Like, business wise, I’m sure the companies help sell advertising on it, great.

But in terms of eyes in the product. Surely it’s just that total number or average number of people who tuned in during that episode? I don’t think beating anyone on key demos matters for anything if you’re losing overall. A 50 year old fan can be as valuable as a 25 year old fan.

they're not the same AT all, even if we're going to ignore advertisers, any promotion should want to have the 18-35 demo way more than the 50+ demo.

Plain and simple, 50+ are going to die sooner, and once they're gone, if you never built a 18-35 fanbase, then you're done. 50 yr olds are not going to travel for shows or buy merch online as much as the people under the 18-35 demo. 50+ watch out of habit, not fandom.

[Big Red Machine]

I listened to Dave daily from 2014 to 2020 and never remember hearing the term "the demo" or any concern about how WWE was doing in it until AEW came along and did better than NXT in it.

(1) why would it matter if there isn't competition?
(2) didn't you say that USA wasn't looking at demos?

1. Because it's a supposedly-important metric (and everything is competition. Not just another wrestling show).
2. I don't think they are. But if your argument is that it should only be brought up if it's important to the network, why does Dave talk about NXT's demo rating? (And once Dynamite started, Dave suddenly started talking about ratings in "the demo" for Raw and Smackdown, too.)

[Big Red Machine]

I hear you, there’s probably a thing about it behind the scenes and in the advertising, but it’s just not something discussed here, so it’s not something I’ve really ever understood, but the overall point is, who cares about the “key demo” if it’s for advertising revenue only? Like, business wise, I’m sure the companies help sell advertising on it, great.

But in terms of eyes in the product. Surely it’s just that total number or average number of people who tuned in during that episode? I don’t think beating anyone on key demos matters for anything if you’re losing overall. A 50 year old fan can be as valuable as a 25 year old fan.

they're not the same AT all, even if we're going to ignore advertisers, any promotion should want to have the 18-35 demo way more than the 50+ demo.

Plain and simple, 50+ are going to die sooner, and once they're gone, if you never built a 18-35 fanbase, then you're done. 50 yr olds are not going to travel for shows or buy merch online as much as the people under the 18-35 demo.

But the 50+ are the ones more likely to 1) watch commercials at all, and 2) buy sh*t from TV commercials.

Also, you are assuming that all fans are lifers. That's not true. It doesn't matter when someone is going to die if you only get three years of fandom out of them. And everyone's money is worth the same. Promotions should be trying to make fans of any and all ages.

50+ watch out of habit, not fandom.

What's your evidence for this? There are plenty of people who are wrestling fans their whole lives. Why is their watching "habit" and not fandom.

[XIV]

I hear you, there’s probably a thing about it behind the scenes and in the advertising, but it’s just not something discussed here, so it’s not something I’ve really ever understood, but the overall point is, who cares about the “key demo” if it’s for advertising revenue only? Like, business wise, I’m sure the companies help sell advertising on it, great.

But in terms of eyes in the product. Surely it’s just that total number or average number of people who tuned in during that episode? I don’t think beating anyone on key demos matters for anything if you’re losing overall. A 50 year old fan can be as valuable as a 25 year old fan.

they're not the same AT all, even if we're going to ignore advertisers, any promotion should want to have the 18-35 demo way more than the 50+ demo.

Plain and simple, 50+ are going to die sooner, and once they're gone, if you never built a 18-35 fanbase, then you're done. 50 yr olds are not going to travel for shows or buy merch online as much as the people under the 18-35 demo.

But the 50+ are the ones more likely to 1) watch commercials at all, and 2) buy sh*t from TV commercials.

Also, you are assuming that all fans are lifers. That's not true. It doesn't matter when someone is going to die if you only get three years of fandom out of them. And everyone's money is worth the same. Promotions should be trying to make fans of any and all ages.

50+ watch out of habit, not fandom.

What's your evidence for this? There are plenty of people who are wrestling fans their whole lives. Why is their watching "habit" and not fandom.

This is a response to both points!

I’m on board that any company have to make new fans, but whether that fan is 18 or 50 is irrelevant. You don’t need “lifers to make it happen”. A dollar spent on merchandise is worth a dollar. Doesn’t matter who spends it. I really don’t see Demos as being important at all.

WWE constantly turning to legends for ratings boosts shows that they see the value in bringing back the older fans who remember Hogan, Flair, Goldberg, Edge in their heyday.

Fact is I watch my football (soccer) team out of fandom. I’ve been with them all my life, but it’s not habit, if they’re having a bad year or playing boring football, I’m less likely to feel bad if I skip matches to do something else.

I’ve watched wrestling for 24 years. The amount I watch is based on fandom and whether or not the product is interesting to me, not out of habit, and that’s unlikely to change to no matter my age.

[Big Red Machine]

Todd Martin noted that this also could be because of the NHL coming to USA on Wednesday nights.