Ratings agency Nielsen has revealed it plans to extend measurement of TV show audiences to select subscription video on demand services.

Measurement of SVOD content has been a major blind spot for the industry with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. often refusing to reveal audience figures.

Nielsen will now make available audience data for content that streams on select SVOD players with A&E Networks, Disney ABC Television Group, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and Warner Brothers amongst the eight networks and production studios that have subscribed to the new service.

The new technology is said to be aimed primarily at chronicling activity around Netflix. The data is available to the clients, who can then choose to release it publicly if they wish.

A Netflix spokesperson has since dismissed the new service in a quote, saying: “The data that Nielsen is reporting is not accurate, not even close, and does not reflect the viewing of these shows on Netflix.”

Source: Variety