Nielsen will start tracking views on Netflix and other streaming services in December, The Wall Street Journal reports.
They'll come up with ratings without consent from companies like Netflix and Amazon, who notoriously keep their ratings private, by identifying program audio on household meters. Nielsen's move will likely decrease leverage streaming services have in negotiations with both TV studios and talent.
"Our clients will be able to look at their programs and understand: Is putting content on Netflix impacting the viewership on linear and traditional VOD [video on demand]?" Brian Fuhrer, a Nielsen senior vice president, told WSJ.
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While Nielsen can't yet track streaming mobile devices like iPads, it's not like we really need Nielsen ratings to know everyone and their mother binges Orange Is The New Black, right?
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