Live Smackdown registers 25% increase in viewership over previous week

The live commercial-free edition of Smackdown last night on USA Network pulled in a 2.29 rating and a total of 3.33 million viewers.

The show pulled in around 25% more viewers from what the taped Smackdown last Friday night did just days before the TLC pay-per-view. The commercial-free aspect of the show usually helps with the ratings as it keeps viewers glued to the channel rather than switching to something else during commercials. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)