NFL objects to Nielsen's changes to TV ratings methodology
- The NFL said Nielsen's planned changes to its TV ratings methodology for the coming season were rushed and could hurt sports viewership measurement.
- Nielsen said the new approach will begin on Aug. 31 and includes changes to how it measures co-viewing, or multiple people watching together.
- NFL data chief Paul Ballew said the league is still assessing the impact but believes the changes appear negative for sports, while co-viewing changes may help in some cases.
- The league is coming off a strong TV season, with an average of 18.7 million viewers per game in 2025 under Nielsen's Big Data + Panel system, up 10% from 2024.
- The article also said the NFL's media deals run through 2033 for CBS, Fox, NBC and Amazon and through 2034 for ESPN, while the league continues to explore future options and remains interested in international growth and Olympic flag football.
The NFL said it is unhappy with Nielsen's planned changes to its TV ratings methodology for the upcoming season, arguing that the moves were rushed and could have a negative effect on sports measurement. Nielsen said the new system will start on Aug. 31 and includes changes to how co-viewing is counted.
League officials said they are still working through the likely impact. Paul Ballew, the NFL's head of data and analytics, said the league does not yet have enough information to fully assess the effect, but its early read is that the changes could be a setback for sports ratings. He also said media measurement remains important to the league.
The article also noted that the NFL's TV ratings were strong last season under Nielsen's Big Data + Panel system, with average regular-season viewership up 10% from 2024. It said the league's media rights deals continue through the next decade, and separately mentioned the NFL's international plans and player interest in Olympic flag football.
NFL对Nielsen电视收视率测量方法的调整提出异议
NFL表示，对Nielsen计划在新赛季实施的电视收视率测量方法调整不满，认为这些变化推进过快，可能对体育赛事的收视统计带来负面影响。Nielsen则称，新系统将于8月31日开始使用，并会调整联合收看的计算方式。
联盟官员说，目前仍在评估这些变化的实际影响。NFL数据与分析主管保罗·巴勒夫表示，联盟还没有足够的信息作出全面判断，但初步来看，这些调整似乎会让体育赛事的收视数据受到不利影响；他也强调，媒体测量对联盟很重要。
文中还提到，NFL上赛季在Nielsen的Big Data + Panel系统下收视表现强劲，常规赛平均观众数较2024年增长10%。报道同时写到，NFL的媒体转播合同还将延续多年，并提及联盟的国际赛安排以及球员对奥运会腰旗橄榄球的兴趣。