Social media and streaming will now count towards Nielsen TV ratings

Nielsen TV ratings are expanding their sources of information.
(Image credit: iStock)

No longer will television ratings be restricted to data gathered from Nielsen "boxes" in select homes; the measurement information company will now look at streaming as well as conversations on Twitter and Facebook, Mediaite reports.

The new social media system is called "Social Content Ratings," and will measure conversations continuously, rather than only when a show airs. In its deal with Facebook, this means that Nielsen will receive data on conversations about TV shows even when they are mentioned in posts that aren't marked "public."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.