Nielsen pressured to measure overall internet ratings
Nielsen, the media ratings firm, says its “television measurement homes” will soon also be “Internet measurement homes”, bringing the company a step closer to providing integrated ratings demanded by media companies. Nielsen will now install Internet metres in 7,500 of its television panel homes, where viewership is extrapolated to produce national TV ratings. It hopes to eventually capture data to calculate combined ratings for TV and Internet viewing. Big money is at play here. The company’s measurements are used to sell an estimated $70 billion in advertising based on TV ratings each year. But with more consumers watching TV on the Internet and, even, mobile phones, Nielsen needs to track viewership more effectively. Read more: The New York Times
