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Nielsen’s New Ratings Overhaul Drops Wrestling TV Totals; AEW Sets Record Low as NXT Improves

The Big Data + Panel rollout is lowering reported linear audiences while HBO Max streams for AEW remain excluded, leaving networks parsing partial counts.

Overview

  • AEW Dynamite’s Title Tuesday on October 7 averaged 321,000 viewers with a 0.07 in 18–49 on TBS, the lowest in the show’s history, against NXT and heavy MLB/NHL competition.
  • WWE NXT’s Showdown special on The CW drew 625,000 viewers and a 0.12 demo rating, rising week over week and handily outdrawing Dynamite head to head.
  • WWE SmackDown on October 3 averaged 1.03 million viewers and a 0.23 in 18–49 under the new method, marking a brand low outside past FS1 preemptions.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery says Nielsen’s AEW figures still exclude HBO Max simulcasts, and reporting via Dave Meltzer indicates Nielsen plans to integrate Max data in 2026.
  • Analysts note Nielsen’s update has lifted many major sports while pro wrestling has declined, raising concerns about advertising and rights valuations if streaming does not offset the drop.