Nielsen will start measuring Netflix viewership in December

By Mike Flacy Published November 20, 2014

Targeting a start date next month, the Nielsen company will being tracking viewership of online video on subscription services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. According to details of the project reported by the Wall Street Journal, the company will be analyzing the audio from episodic content on said digital services in order to determine which program is being watched.

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While this method of audio-monitoring still won’t address subscribers that watch services like Netflix on mobile devices, it’s definitely a step forward in measuring viewership of online-first content like Netflix’s Orange is the New Black or House of Cards. Of course, the monitoring process would still work when content is being streamed from a mobile device to the main HDTV in a Nielsen home, perhaps using a Google Chromecast or Apple TV.

These measurements will come from existing Nielsen clients that would likely have to agree to audio monitoring, if they haven’t already when first accepting the hardware from Nielsen. Hypothetically, Nielsen could also track the practice of binge watching episodic content in order to determine the average length of time or number of episodes that’s consumed when Netflix or another streaming service is launched.

While this data won’t be particularly useful to companies like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon, Nielsen will be able to go to networks and studios, like NBC or Disney, and provide a report of how licensed content is being consumed through those digital sources. Ultimately, this information could provide leverage in negotiating the renewal of licensing agreements. It could also potentially play into negotiations for original content development, basically for anyone involved in the production of new content.

Netflix has been consistently reluctant to release any data related to online viewership of original or licensed content. When asked about releasing numbers earlier this year, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said “No, we don’t plan on releasing our metrics. I honestly believe that our ratings success would spin as a negative story to our suppliers, that we have shows that are being watched in greater numbers than are being watched on television.”

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Entertainment

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video

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When it comes to on-demand streaming video services, there are none bigger than Netflix. It's far and away the most popular service of its kind both in the U.S. and internationally. But that doesn't mean it's the only option. As the market for these services matures, more competitors are emerging all the time. One of the most compelling for a lot of people is Amazon Prime Video, simply because so many people already have relationships with Amazon.

And yet, as much as these two services both compete for our entertainment dollars, they're radically different from each other in several areas such as price, content selection, and extra features. So, if forced to choose just one, which one do you choose? It's not necessarily an easy decision, so we've assembled a cheat sheet that lets you compare the two on some of the most important criteria. So get your scorecard and your wallet ready ... it's Netflix vs. Amazon Prime. Let's get ready to rumble.

Audio / Video

Netflix begins rolling out support for spatial audio, starting with iOS devices

Person listening to spatial audio using Apple AirPods Max headphones.

Apple's spatial audio feature, which works with the company's AirPods Pro earbuds and AirPods Max headphones, offers a pretty cool way to get immersive audio from both music and movies. Support for spatial audio, however, is far from universal when it comes to streaming video services, with the most notable holdout being Netflix. But that's about to change, aswe've had confirmation from Netflix that the streaming giant has begun to roll out spatial audio support to iOS devices.

Spatial audio, in Apple's world, works in two different ways. If you're listening to Apple Music on an iOS device (and soon, Android devices, too), you can use any set of headphones or earbuds to experience tracks that have been recorded in Dolby Atmos Music the way they were meant to be heard. Spatial audio provides that wide and airy 3D-like sound that typifies Dolby Atmos Music.

Deals

Best Prime Day streaming deals for 2021: Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu

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If you're running out of things to watch, you should check out this year's Prime Day streaming deals to gain access to a virtually unlimited library of content across the most popular services. Shoppers usually take advantage of Prime Day deals to buy appliances and gadgets, but it's also a good time to purchase subscriptions to streaming services because of the savings that you can achieve. Streaming services, such as Amazon's own Prime Video, offer different kinds of TV shows and movies that cater to a range of audiences, and so there's always something for everyone, from kids to adults. You don't have to limit yourself to one streaming service though, especially if you want to enjoy all the exclusive content that's being rolled out on these online platforms. There's also no limit to when you want to access the TV shows and movies, as streaming services may be accessed by TVs, laptops, smartphones, and many other devices.

While looking through the services that are part of Prime Day streaming sales, you may be thinking about upgrading the appliances and devices where you'll be watching the new content that you'll be able to access. If you'll be watching primarily from home, you should check out Prime Day 4K TV deals, so that the TV shows and movies will be displayed in the highest quality. If you're planning to consume streaming content while on the go, you might want to upgrade with Prime Day smartphone deals, Prime Day tablet deals, and Prime Day laptop deals. For those who'll be mostly using their desktop computer, improve your PC's display with Prime Day monitor deals, or buy a new one while you're at it with Prime Day PC deals. Also take a look at Prime Day speaker deals for louder audio if you always watch with your family and loved ones, or browse Prime Day headphone deals if you prefer to watch by yourself so that you don't disturb others.
Best Prime Day streaming deals
Amazon's Prime Video, as expected, is front and center in Prime Day streaming deals, but you'll also find offers for other services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. With so many options for streaming services, it's very easy to sign up for a subscription and discover new content for you to consume. More families are moving away from cable subscriptions and replacing them with on-demand streaming services, and it's easy to see why. There are no programming schedules, so you can watch your favorite TV shows and movies at your preferred time. It's also very easy to discover new content that you may like, due to the categories on the interfaces of streaming services and the algorithms that make recommendations depending on your history on the platform. You'll surely be able to maximize your subscriptions to streaming services, even if you sign up for several ones at a time.