Nielsen To Change TV Ratings Calculations

TV shows live and die on the strength of the Nielsen ratings, but with the massive migration of TV viewing away from traditional over-the-air broadcast, satellite, and cable - what exactly is a TV viewing experience and how should program watching be counted?

To address the issue of the non-traditional ways of accessing TV content becoming more common, Nielsen, the TV ratings company, is embarking on a path to make its ratings results more accurately reflect the changing TV viewing landscape.

To start, Nielsen households will have their streaming content counted, whether accessed via a Smart TV, Blu-ray Disc Player, X-Box, or PlayStation. In addition, programming accessed via portable devices, such as tablets and smartphones will also begin to be included.

For additional details and perspective, read the report from The Hollywood Reporter.

The question is: Will changing the way TV ratings are determined actually result in better quality programming - or will we just see more of the same? Be careful what you wish for.

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