On the latest “Strictly Business” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff analyzed the huge drop in viewership for AEW Collision in its first three weeks. Bischoff noted that the drop happened on a weekend when people would be traveling due to July 4th.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much if I was Tony,” Bischoff said. “It’s the Fourth of July weekend. There’s just not a lot of people sitting around watching television over the Fourth of July weekend, at least not as many as there normally are. That’s one factor.”
Bischoff continued, “When I say I wouldn’t be concerned, I would be aware. I wouldn’t be panicking. It wouldn’t be keeping me up at night, but I would definitely be aware because at 452,000 viewers, that’s 40 to 45% of a drop from their initial premiere episode only three weeks ago. I predicted they were going to drop somewhere between 25 and 30 and they dropped 27%. I don’t think you can get more accurate than that in a forecast. But when you’re losing 40 plus percent within three weeks, let’s see what happens next Saturday. If next Saturday is a reflection or looks close to where we were this past Saturday, then if I’m Tony, I’m starting to think about things a little bit. What do I need to change? What do I need to do? If I’m TNT, is it more outside the church so to speak? Are you preaching to the choir with your on channel promotions or do you need to go outside and promote outside of your own network to try to bring some other eyeballs who might not otherwise be all that aware of AEW? So I don’t know, man, but I would be a little bit concerned if we see another drop off, or even if we come in at 450,000. That to me would be an issue and I don’t think it bodes well for the fall. What’s going to happen when college football starts? What is that, a month and a half away?”
Click on the video below to hear Bischoff talk about WrestleMania in London, ALL IN Wembley ticket sales and more.
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