It has been eight long years since FOX has taken the #1 spot in the 18-49 demo among the networks but Deadline.com is now reporting that the network will come first when the 2019/2020 television season is over.
FOX, helped with The Masked Singer, the Super Bowl, and even WWE’s Smackdown, registered a 13% increase in that demographic compared to the previous year. Smackdown has consistently topped Friday nights in that demo but that run came to an end when viewers tuned away when the coronavirus hit and WWE started presenting empty arena shows from the WWE Performance Center.
“With just under a week to go until this season officially ends May 20, Fox has a 1.7/8 average in the key demo. Not only is that a rise of 13% for the Murdoch-owned outlet compared with its second-place showing for the 2018-19 TV season, the network rich in NFL, WWE SmackDown and unscripted is the only one up in the demo and viewers (17%) this year,” Deadline reports.
FOX acquired the TV rights to Smackdown in a five-year deal worth over $1 billion.
