Overview

• The October 3 SmackDown averaged 1.03 million viewers and a 0.23 rating in adults 18–49, the lowest published total for the series outside FS1 pre-emptions, per Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider.
• Despite the drop, SmackDown ranked third on cable and fourth across broadcast and cable that night, as ESPN’s WNBA Finals Game 1 led with 1.86 million viewers and a 0.44 demo rating.
• Nielsen began using its “Panel + Big Data” system the week of Sept. 28, a shift that has depressed pro wrestling totals even as many sports telecasts see measured gains.
• NFL analytics chief Paul Ballew has noted the new numbers do not yet include first‑party data from most NFL streaming partners, while Nielsen says it has integration deals with Amazon, Netflix and YouTube and is in talks with major rightsholders.
• Platform viewing remains strong for WWE content, with the full-length SmackDown main event drawing nearly 1.5 million views on social and several other segments approaching 500,000.