By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Raw TV ratings in 2009 were marked by definitive fluctuations that occurred due to specific events. The first three months of the year were the most consistent building to WrestleMania 25, then a post-Mania lull, seasonal changes, and the guest host concept created those distinct changes.

Looking at the average of each three-month period that makes up the four quarters of the year, the first quarter from January to March averaged a 3.67 rating and 5.41 million viewers. April to June (Q2) declined slightly to a 3.66 rating and 5.36 million viewers.

July to September (Q3) declined a little more to a 3.62 rating and 5.24 million viewers. This was followed by a distinct drop-off to a 3.39 rating and 4.93 million viewers from October to December (Q4). The following is a graph of the quarterly ratings trend.

Q1 - 3.67 rating and 5.41 million viewers
Q2 - 3.66 rating and 5.36 million viewers
Q3 - 3.62 rating and 5.24 million viewers
Q4 - 3.39 rating and 4.93 million viewers

There are patterns within the quarterly break down that captured the distinct fluctuations. The first quarter of the year contained the second-most watched month of TV when February averaged a 3.81 rating and 5.61 million viewers. This fed into a relatively strong month of March prior to WrestleMania 25.

The month of April (Q2) started strong with post-WrestleMania fall-out, but then completely tapered off to where the month of May nearly hit rock-bottom for the year. If not for November's weak TV ratings, May would have been the least-watched month of Raw programming during the year.

WWE instituted the guest-hosting concept at the end of June after incorporating Donald Trump into storylines that helped boost the Q2 average rating. That created an upward trend for Q3 that lasted until August for the Summerslam build-up. However, at the end of Q3 in September, ratings dropped off 7.9 percent compared to August.

The final three months of the year from October to December were part of the natural seasonal decline in viewership against Monday Night Football on ESPN. WWE tried to utilize the guest-hosting concept to off-set declines in viewership and it helped to some degree.

The fourth quarter declined 7.9 percent in TV ratings compared to the first quarter at the beginning of the year. Looking at the same 2008 seasonal changes, the fourth quarter 2008 declined 13.0 percent compared to the first quarter at the beginning of 2008.

In Part 2, we'll do a complete comparison of 2009 overall ratings compared to the 2008 overall ratings while also comparing the yearly trends. The following is a list of several periodic comparisons to create a visual of the 2009 trend in Raw TV ratings.

2009 Monthly Raw TV averages

-- Jan: 3.59 rating and 5.29 million viewers
-- Feb: 3.81 rating and 5.61 million viewers
-- Mar: 3.63 rating and 5.32 million viewers
-- Apr: 3.77 rating and 5.52 million viewers
-- May: 3.35 rating and 4.78 million viewers
-- June: 3.87 rating and 5.77 million viewers
-- July: 3.66 rating and 5.32 million viewers
-- Aug: 3.74 rating and 5.42 million viewers
-- Sept: 3.47 rating and 4.97 million viewers
-- Oct: 3.42 rating and 4.92 million viewers
-- Nov: 3.34 rating and 4.85 million viewers
-- Dec: 3.39 rating and 5.01 million viewers
-- 2009 Average: 3.59 rating and 5.23 million viewers

Quarterly Raw TV averages

-- January: 3.59 rating and 5.29 million viewers
-- February: 3.81 rating and 5.61 million viewers
-- March: 3.63 rating and 5.32 million viewers
Q1 - 3.67 rating and 5.41 million viewers

-- April: 3.77 rating and 5.52 million viewers
-- May: 3.35 rating and 4.78 million viewers
-- June: 3.87 rating and 5.77 million viewers
Q2 - 3.66 rating and 5.36 million viewers

-- July: 3.66 rating and 5.32 million viewers
-- Aug: 3.74 rating and 5.42 million viewers
-- Sept: 3.47 rating and 4.97 million viewers
Q3 - 3.62 rating and 5.24 million viewers

-- Oct: 3.42 rating and 4.92 million viewers
-- Nov: 3.34 rating and 4.85 million viewers
-- Dec: 3.39 rating and 5.01 million viewers
Q4 - 3.39 rating and 4.93 million viewers

2009 Monthly Raw TV averages

-- HIGH MONTH: June (3.87 rating and 5.77 million viewers)
-- LOW MONTH: Nov. (3.34 rating and 4.85 million viewers)
-- HIGH % ABOVE YR. AVG.: June was 7.9 percent better than 2009 average
-- LOW % BELOW YR. AVG.: Nov. was 6.8 percent worse than 2009 average

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