CAP?... RAW NUMBERS ON NETFLIX: BREAKING DOWN THE STREAMING STATS
Words: Mimi aka #TheWrestlingChic
Ask Khal, I’ve been chomping at the bit! Clarity has been given; number crunchers, gather ‘round ‘cause we got some data… FINALLY. Netflix hit us this week with a clarification on how they’re calculating the streaming viewership for WWE's Raw, and while it ain’t a full-on conspiracy, the math’s been looking a little… sus. Let’s get into it.
The Raw Data—Literally
Since Raw made its Netflix debut in January, it’s been popping up in those Tudum Top 10 rankings like a certified hit. But some sharp-eyed analysts noticed that when you apply Netflix’s standard calculation (hours viewed ÷ runtime), Raw wasn’t lining up like your typical binge-worthy drama. Low key, of course it wouldn’t. A weekly live show can’t measure up to original Netflix reality dramas like Young, Famous and African.
Netflix heard the whispers and executives came through with an explanation:
- Live Raw vs. On-Demand Raw – Live broadcasts roll differently than replays, so runtime isn’t consistent across both formats.
- Blended Views – Netflix doesn’t just use a single formula to calculate Raw’s numbers. Instead, they mix calculations from different versions of each episode, factoring in both live and on-demand runtimes. Since Netflix is available worldwide, views are measured globally and typically follow a simple formula: Views = Hours Viewed × Runtime (in hours). But with Raw, that equation isn’t always so straightforward.
- Ads Affect Runtime – The show runs longer live due to commercials, while on-demand viewers get the streamlined version.
Now, does that mean the numbers were rigged like a small package? Not really. But it does mean that comparing Raw to, say Sweet Magnolias or Season 8 of Love Is Blind isn’t as straightforward as it looks.
Breaking Down the Discrepancies
So here’s where it gets boom-bastic side-eyed, when you check the stats for past Raw episodes, the gaps in calculation you can say has varied. Sometimes the Netflix reported views were lower than the raw (pun intended) math and sometimes, like the post-Royal Rumble episode, they were higher. The Rumble itself had no discrepancy. Why? Because it was a two-day sample window, while Monday Night Raw gets a full seven days of data. That supports Netflix’s claim that live and on-demand runtimes are affecting how views are counted.
What’s the Verdict?
Is this a smoking gun? Nah. However, wrestling viewership on Netflix requires a different lens than your typical streaming hit. How would that lens look? That's still up for debate. WWE Raw is a different kind of beast: part live attraction, part binge-worthy and a three hour endurance test for both fans and WWE superstars. It’s still too early to draw a solid conclusion of its performance. To get a true and accurate read, a full year of data, week by week would be needed even with this formula in play. Some might even argue this method isn't the best way to measure this programing at all.
At the end of the day, WWE and Netflix are still in their honeymoon phase and this little numbers game is just a growing pain. The real test? How these stats hold up as Raw continues to evolve on the platform. Until then, let’s keep watching, let’s keep questioning and remember; just like a great wrestling storyline, the truth is always a little more complicated than it seems.
Look at AEW: when it entered the scene during the peak of the pandemic, numbers skyrocketed against NXT, thus creating the Rating Wars. After three years, the dust settled, the bottom fell out, and the real story emerged. Viewership is at a decline, even with some big name signings. Meanwhile, NXT had held steady despite shifting networks (two-times, by the way), receiving big viewership spikes for their special episodes.
In the long run, time always tells the real story.
*Writer's note: That reminds me! For a premium Netflix sub of $24.99, you're getting commercials throughout RAW? My weekly complaint is: WTF!
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Catch Mimi, also known as #TheWrestlingChic, co-hosting #TheBuckle: #TurnbuckleTalk, every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET on X Spaces and Thursday at 8:35PM ET w/the rest of the crew on The Black Rasslin' Podcast on YouTube.
