TNA UK TV RATINGS – WEEK ENDING 10TH JULY 2011

IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 10th July 2011 and it’s further good news for IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a huge 216,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 5th July “Please Stand Up” episode headlined by a Sting vs. Scott Steiner main event.

Sting: New "Crazed" side to his character has proved a hit with UK viewers.

This was down 20,000 from last weeks all time high viewership record of 236,000 but was nonetheless a very strong showing. This extends IMPACT Wrestling streak as the top rated wrestling program on UK television to 14 consecutive weeks.

It would be appear that IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge is beginning to consistently break the 200,000 mark and rank number 1 each week on Challenge, something I’m sure both IMPACT Wrestling and BSKYB/Challenge will be very pleased with.

The saturday night replay made the top 10 again this week, with its airing on Challenge+1 garnering 30,000 viewers.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Jeremy Buck vs. Shannon Moore “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode. However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Play Your Cards Right, drew 128,000 viewers, meaning TNA Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 10 July 2011

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE 2200)	216
2	CATCHPHRASE (SUN 1832)	151
3	BULLSEYE (FRI 2301)	142
4	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (THU 2100)	142
5	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (TUE 2100)	142
6	IN IT TO WIN IT (TUE 1959)	141
7	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (FRI 2059)	135
8	BULLSEYE (FRI 2330)	130
9	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (WED 2100)	128
10	CATCHPHRASE (SAT 1831)	128

WWE’s RAW, posted 118,000 viewers, down 34,000 viewers from last week. WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown” drew 112,000 viewers, this was up 16,000 viewers from last weeks airing.

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2200)	216,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	118,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 2, 2230)	112,000
4	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (SAT, Challenge+1 , 2201)	30,000
5	TNA XPLOSION (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 128,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 18
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV RATINGS – WEEK ENDING 3RD JULY 2011

IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 3rd July 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a huge 236,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 28th June “BISCHOFF’S CRIMSON MASK” episode headlined by a Sting vs. Abyss main event.

Sting vs. Abyss: The most watched TNA IMPACT Wrestling Main Event ever broadcast on UK Television.

This is a new all time high viewership record for TNA IMPACT Wrestling on UK television. In fact the show scored more viewers than WWE’s RAW and Smackdown shows could garner – COMBINED!

What’s more is that the saturday night replay of the same score also scored an all-time high rating for a replay with 126,000 viewers tuning in.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Magnus vs. Orlando Jordan “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Play Your Cards Right, drew 114,000 viewers, meaning TNA Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 03 July 2011

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE 2202)	236
2	BULLSEYE (THU 1730)	161
3	CATCHPHRASE (SAT 1830)	159
4	CELEBRITY WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE (FRI 2100)	152
5	CELEBRITY WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE (THU 2101)	149
6	BLOCKBUSTERS (SUN 1731)	144
7	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (SAT 2101)	126
8	BULLSEYE (SUN 2302)	125
9	CELEBRITY WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE (WED 2100)	118
10	BULLSEYE (TUE 1732)	114

WWE’s RAW, posted 152,000 viewers whilst Smackdown on Sky Sports 2 drew just 96,000 viewers.

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2202)	236,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	152,000
3	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (SAT, Challenge , 2101)	126,000
4	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 2, 2259)	96,000
4	WWE BOTTOM LINE (SAT, Sky Sports 3, 1100)	45,000
4	WWE LATE NIGHT SUPERSTARS (SAT, Sky Sports 3, 2201)	44,000
5	TNA XPLOSION (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 114,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 17
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV RATINGS – WEEK ENDING 26TH JUNE 2011

IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge

Sincere apologies folks but I’m currently on a family holiday so i’m sure you’ll forgive me for only posting a brief ratings report for you this  week. Rest assured, normal service shall be resumed from next week forward.

TNA IMPACT Wrestling wins the week again with a whopping 193,000 viewers, one of its best showings in a while and up 41,000 viewers on last week. However it’s TNA Xplosion that makes the wave this week, ranking in the Top 10 with a record 111,000 viewers for the programmes highest ever rating. Interesting to note that the Xplosion Championship Challenge match for this particular episode was Alex Shelley vs. Okada.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2200)	193,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sports 3, 2500)	117,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 2, 2201)	117,000
4	TNA XPLOSION (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	111,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 16
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV RATINGS – WEEK ENDING 19TH JUNE 2011

IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 19th June 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored 152,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 14th June “No tricks, No Gimmicks” Slammiversary lead-in episode headlined by a Mr. Anderson & Gunner vs. Sting & Eric Young main event.

Mr. Anderson & Gunner vs. Sting & EY: UK fans not digging the Gunner push?

Despite being a drop in viewership, and the first time that IMPACT Wrestling hasn’t topped the Challenge Top 10 in months, it was once again the highest rated wrestling programming on UK television for the eleventh consecutive week and 15th time overall this year.

I personally think the drop confirms my thinking that the casual viewers in the UK seem to be drawn in by Star power of the ex-WWE wrestlers rather than a decent wrestling match being on offer. It will be interesting to see how next weeks episode fares.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Douglas Williams vs. Amazing Red “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Play Your Cards Right, drew 130,000 viewers, meaning TNA Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

TNA’s latest Pay-Per View special offering – Slammiversary IX, was the top rated wrestling program this week, drawing a decent 157,000 viewers for the event headlined by Mr. Anderson’s World Title victory over Sting.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 19 June 2011

1	SHOOTING STARS (MON 2201)	160
2	TNA PPV TNA SLAMMIVERSARY (WED 2201)	157
3	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2200)	152
4	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (TUE 2100)	146
5	CRYSTAL MAZE (THU 1801)	145
6	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (THU 2059)	144
7	NINJA WARRIOR/#NINJA WARRIOR 7118 (THU 2159)	143
8	PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT (SUN 2131)	136
9	PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT (SUN 2101)	130
10	PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT (SUN 2200)	130

WWE’s RAW, featuring “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and headlined by a  John Cena versus CM Punk main event, posted 124,000 viewers, up 2,000 on last weeks episode.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown” drew just 99,000 viewers with a show which featured a Christian vs. Sheamus main event. This was a drop of 7,000 viewers from last week and the third consecutive week the ratings have fell for the program.

In other wrestling programming, a WWE special “Best of RAW 2010″ show drew 43,000 viewers for its Sunday evening showing on Sky Sports 3. Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2200)	152,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2500)	124,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 3, 2201)	99,000
4	WWE PRESENTS RAW – BEST OF 2010 (SUN, Sky Sports 3, 1901)	43,000
5	TNA XPLOSION (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 130,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 15
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV RATINGS – WEEK ENDING 12TH JUNE 2011

IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 12th June 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a superb 197,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 7th June “Bischoff got Served” episode headlined by a Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner vs. Kurt Angle & Matt Morgan main event and featured the cliffhanger ending of Mick Foley being fired by the Network.

Kurt Angle & Matt Morgan vs. Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner: Star power appears to be important to UK wrestling viewers.

This was a rise in viewership from last week’s episode of  20,000 viewers. IMPACT Wrestling was once again the highest rated wrestling programming on UK television for the tenth consecutive week and 14th time overall this year.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Devon vs. Anarquia “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Crystal Maze, drew 115,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 12 June 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2200)	197
2	BULLSEYE (SUN 2032)	158
3	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2001)	152
4	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (FRI 2101)	149
5	BULLSEYE (SUN 2002)	139
6	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (THU 2100)	130
7	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (WED 2102)	123
8	BLOCKBUSTERS (SUN 1730)	123
9	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2030)	116
10	CRYSTAL MAZE (TUE 1759)	115

WWE’s RAW, featuring the Tough Enough Finale and headlined by an Alex Riley & John Cena versus The Miz & R-Truth tag-team main event, rebounded from last weeks 17,000 ratings drop and posted 122,000 viewers, up 13,000 on last weeks episode.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown” drew 106,000 viewers with a show which featured a Randy Orton vs. Sheamus main event for the second week running. This was a drop of 9,000 viewers from last week and the second consecutive week the ratings have fell for the program.

WWE’s syndicated show “Bottom Line” drew 20,000 viewers for its Friday night showing on Sky Sports 4.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2200)	197,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	122,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2301)	106,000
4	WWE BOTTOM LINE (FRI, Sky Sport 4, 2502)	20,000
5	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 115,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 14
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 5th June 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 5th June 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a decent 177,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 31st May “Anderson Center Stage” episode headlined by a head to head clash between Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle.

Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam: A great WRESTLING main event.

Whilst this saw a drop in viewership from last week’s episode (which was the second highest rated episode ever broadcast on UK television.) it was still the highest rated wrestling programming on UK television for the ninth consecutive week and 13th time overall this year.

The Saturday night replay of IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge+1 drew 23,000 viewers.

TNA Xplosion, featuring Desmond Wolfe’s second week as commissioner as well as a Robbie E vs. Crimson “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Family Fortunes, drew 113,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 05 June 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2202)	177
2	NINJA WARRIOR (SUN 1000)	165
3	AUNTIES BLOOMERS: MORE AUNTIES BLOOMERS (TUE 1901)	153
4	JOE PASQUALES PRICE IS RIGHT (SUN 2202)	144
5	BULLSEYE (WED 2302)	132
6	CRYSTAL MAZE (TUE 1801)	128
7	BULLSEYE (WED 2332)	124
8	NINJA WARRIOR (SAT 0959)	116
9	FAMILY FORTUNES (THU 2029)	114
10	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2001)	113

WWE’s RAW, headlined by a John Cena versus R-Truth non-title main event posted 109,000 viewers, a drop of 17,000 viewers from last weeks episode.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown”, rebounded from last week’s dismal showing drawing 115,000 viewers with a show which featured a Randy Orton vs. Sheamus World Title main event. This was a drop of 9,000 viewers from last week.

WWE’s NXT drew 26,000 viewers for its Saturday night showing on Sky Sports 4.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	IMPACT WRESTLING (TUE, Challenge , 2202)	177,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2200)	115,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	109,000
4	WWE NXT (SAT, Sky Sport 4, 2303)	26,000
5	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 113,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 13
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 29th May 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 29th May 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – IMPACT Wrestling scored a superb 219,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 24th May “Back from the Dead” episode featuring the debut of the new look Impact Wrestling Zone, Eric Bischoff’s attempts to squash the X-Division and Mr. Anderson’s surprise attack on Sting.

"Mr. Sting-erson" proved a hit with viewers in the United Kingdom.

This was up a whopping 22,000 viewers on last weeks episode and was the second highest rated episode ever broadcast on UK television. This means TNA Wrestling on Challenge continues to be the top rated wrestling programming on UK television for the eighth consecutive week and 12th time overall this year.

TNA Xplosion, featuring Desmond Wolfe’s return as commissioner as well as a D’Angelo Dinero vs. Suicide “Xplosion Championship Challenge” match, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode.

However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Bullseye, drew 120,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 29 May 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2202)	219
2	NINJA WARRIOR (SUN 1000)	148
3	BULLSEYE (WED 2332)	148
4	BULLSEYE (MON 2302)	147
5	FAMILY FORTUNES (WED 2031)	135
6	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (WED 2202)	132
7	TAKESHIS CASTLE (SUN 1130)	127
8	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2030)	124
9	AUNTIES SMALLS (TUE 2154)	121
10	BULLSEYE (WED 2302)	120

WWE’s RAW, headlined by a John Cena & Rey Mysterio versus R-Truth and CM Punk Tag Match posted 126,000 viewers.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown”, rebounded from last week’s dismal showing drawing a good 124,000 viewers with a show which featured a Sheamus vs. Christian vs. Mark Henry main event.

The tuesday repeat of WWE’s Over the Limit Pay-Per View, airing on Sky Sports 3, drew 43,000 viewers, the event was headlined by a Miz/John Cena WWE Title main event.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE, Challenge , 2202)	219,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	126,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2200)	124,000
4	WWE OVER THE LIMIT (TUE , Sky Sports 3, 2100)	43,000
5	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 120,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 12
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 22nd May 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 22nd May 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – TNA iMPACT! scored a superb 197,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 17th May “The Network’s Revenge” episode featuring the surprise appearances of Mick Foley, Chris Harris and Chyna. The show was headlined by 25 Man Battle Royal  main Event won by Mr. Anderson. This was up 4,000 viewers on last weeks episode and means TNA Wrestling on Challenge continues to be the top rated wrestling programming on UK television for the seventh consecutive week and 11th time overall this year.

TNA Sacrifice, headlined by Sting vs. RVD - the most watched TNA PPV broadast ever in the United Kingdom.

But the biggest ratings news of the week is in relation to the TNA Sacrifice PPV broadcast. The event, featuring a heavily hyped Sting vs. Rob Van Dam World Title matchup drew a record 204,000 viewers, meaning TNA Sacrifice is the most watched TNA PPV ever broadcast on UK television!

Sacrifice ranked 1st overall amongst all programming on Challenge for the week, with IMPACT in second place.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a Douglas Williams vs. Okada main event, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode. However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Catchphrase, drew 124,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 22 May 2011

1	TNA PPV TNA SACRIFICE (WED 2200)	204
2	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2158)	197
3	IN IT TO WIN IT (TUE 2059)	154
4	BULLSEYE (MON 2332)	152
5	BULLSEYE (MON 2301)	147
6	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2031)	145
7	FAMILY FORTUNES (TUE 2003)	139
8	CATCHPHRASE (TUE 1934)	138
9	CATCHPHRASE (THU 1901)	131
10	CATCHPHRASE (WED 1930)	124

WWE’s RAW, headlined by a John Cena versus Jack Swagger No Holds Barred Match posted 110,000 viewers, down a whopping 43,000 viewers from last week alone.

And of even more concern for WWE is their other flagship show “Smackdown” which saw a 51,000 viewer drop with a show which featured a Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry main event. The show drew just 81,000 viewers.

WWE’s Over the Limit Pay-Per View, airing on Sky Sports 2, drew a decent 159,000 viewers for the event headlined by a Miz/John Cena WWE Title main event.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA SACRIFICE (WED, Challenge, 2200)	204,000
2	TNA IMPACT (TUE, Challenge , 2158)	197,000
3	WWE OVER THE LIMIT-LIVE (SUN , Sky Sports 2, 2500)	159,000
4	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (MON, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	110,000
5	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (FRI, Sky Sports 4, 2203)	81,000
6	WWE LATE NIGHT BOTTOM LINE (MON, Sky Sports 3, 2201)	57,000
7	WWE AFTERBURN (SUN, Sky Sports 4, 0900)	34,000
8	TNA Xplosion (TUE, Challenge, 2400)	Under 124,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:

TNA iMPACT! – 11
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 15th May 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 15th May 2011 and it’s further good news for TNA Wrestling on Challenge!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – TNA iMPACT! scored a superb 193,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 10th May “The Network is Coming” episode headlined by a Kurt Angle & Velvet Sky vs. Jeff Jarrett, Angelina Love and Winter main Event.

Angle, the Jarretts and Velvet Sky: Held their own in an entertaining main event.

Despite the slight drop in viewership (likely a result of the show focusing very much on the knockouts and featuring few of the main event players) from the last two record breaking weeks, TNA Wrestling on Challenge continues to be the top rated wrestling programming on UK television for the sixth consecutive week and 10th time overall this year.

The show once again ranked 1st overall amongst all programming on Challenge for the week, with the Saturday night repeat ranking 6th.

The saturday night repeat drew an all time high viewership of 124,000 viewers, up 3000 on the previous record. Combined, this means a total of 317,000 viewers catching iMPACT! on Challenge this week, just 4000 shy of the previous high.

TNA Xplosion, featuring an Eric Young vs. Robbie E main event, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode. However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Catchphrase, drew 119,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 15 May 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2202)	193
2	CRYSTAL MAZE (MON 1800)	141
3	IN IT TO WIN IT (MON 2100)	140
4	CATCHPHRASE (WED 1902)	127
5	BULLSEYE (WED 2302)	126
6	TNA IMPACT (SAT 2100)	124
7	FAMILY FORTUNES (WED 2030)	124
8	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (WED 2201)	122
9	CATCHPHRASE (WED 1932)	121
10	CATCHPHRASE (FRI 1931)	119

WWE’s RAW, headlined by the Miz vs Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio Number 1 contenders match posted 153,000 viewers.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown” rebounded from last weeks disastrous 32,000 viewer drop with a show which featured a Randy Orton/Christian Cage vs. Sheamus & Mark Henry main event and drew 132,000 viewers (up 29,000). Interestingly this show (the first after the unpopular title switch to Orton) saw a ratings drop in the states, whereas the opposite trend occurred here in the UK.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:

1	TNA IMPACT (Challenge, Tuesday, 2202)	193,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (Sky Sports 3, Monday, 2600)	153,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (Sky Sports 4, Friday, 2232)	132,000
4	TNA IMPACT Replay (Challenge, Saturday, 2100)	124,000
5	TNA Xplosion (Challenge, Tuesday 2400)	Under 119,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 10
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

TNA UK TV Ratings – Week Ending 8th May 2011

TNA Wrestling on Challenge

The UK TV Ratings are in for the week ending 8th May 2011 and hot off the heels of last weeks record breaking viewership numbers and the announcement of another TNA UK fan party, you’d be forgiven for thinking this week couldn’t possibly bring any more good news…but it does!

According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board – TNA iMPACT! scored a superb 244,000 viewers, for the Tuesday 3rd May “Queen Closeau” episode headlined by a Sting vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray World Title Match Main Event.

The search for Kurt Angle's "Mistress": Intrigued even the casual viewers!

This ensures that TNA Wrestling on Challenge continues to be the top rated wrestling programming on UK television for the fifth consecutive week, 9th time overall this year and is once again a new all time record high in viewership outdrawing both WWE RAW and Smackdown COMBINED!

The show once again ranked 1st overall amongst all programming on Challenge for the week and was up a whopping 44,000 viewers from last week’s record breaking episode.

TNA Xplosion, featuring a British Invasion, Murphy & Gunner vs. Orlando Jordan, Eric Young, Devon and Tommy Dreamer 8-Man Tag Bout, ranked outside the top 10 highest rated programs on Challenge TV and thus i’m unable to confirm the exact viewing figures for the episode. However the lowest ranked of the top 10, Eggheads, drew 123,000 viewers and thus Xplosion falls somewhere below that figure.

Here is the Top 10 ranked programs on Challenge for the week:

Challenge
w/e 08 May 2011

1	TNA IMPACT (TUE 2203)	244
2	IN IT TO WIN IT (THU 2100)	169
3	AUNTIES SMALLS (THU 2153)	152
4	IN IT TO WIN IT (TUE 2111)	150
5	BULLSEYE (WED 2301)	149
6	CRYSTAL MAZE (THU 1800)	148
7	CLASSIC WHO WANTS TBA MILLIONARE (WED 2201)	141
8	EGGHEADS (TUE 2036)	140
9	NINJA WARRIOR (THU 2201)	130
10	EGGHEADS (TUE 2000)	123

WWE’s RAW, featuring the heavily hyped “Rock Birthday Celebration”, a John Cena vs Miz WWE Title rematch and a Mason Ryan vs. Kane main event posted 135,000 viewers, up 7,000 from last weeks episode.

WWE’s other flagship show “Smackdown” drew 103,000 viewers (a drop of a whopping 32,000 viewers from last week) on Sky Sports 4 for a show headlined by Randy Orton’s World Heavyweight Title victory over Christian.

Here’s an overview of viewership for all wrestling programming for the week:

Weekly Ratings Summary:
TNA iMPACT! (Challenge, Tuesday, 2203) – 244,000
WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (Sky Sports 3, Monday, 2600) – 135,000
WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (Sky Sports 4, Friday, 2300) – 103,000
TNA XPLOSION (Challenge, Tuesday, 2400) – Under 123,000

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
TNA iMPACT! – 9
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.