Overview

• Nielsen began using its Panel + Big Data system the week of Sept. 28, a shift that has lowered measured audiences for WWE and AEW programs.
• The Oct. 3 SmackDown averaged 1.03 million viewers with a 0.23 rating in adults 18–49, the show’s lowest mark outside a few FS1 preemptions.
• SmackDown still ranked third on cable and fourth overall that night, as the WNBA Finals opener led with 1.86 million viewers and a 0.44 demo rating.
• NFL data chief Paul Ballew says most first‑party streaming audiences are not yet included, while Nielsen cites deals with Amazon, Netflix and YouTube and ongoing talks with major rightsholders.
• WWE’s audience extends off linear TV, with the SmackDown main event segment drawing nearly 1.5 million social views and Raw’s Netflix carriage sitting outside traditional ratings.