Twitter, Nielsen Team Up To Measure TV Ratings

Twitter (@twitter) and Nielsen recently announced an agreement that will create a new TV ratings measurement based on social media activity. The project will measure conversations that are initiated on Twitter based on a TV show. The standard rating will be ready for online users later in 2013 and is expected to help the current TV ratings studied by Nielsen (@NielsenWire). Chloe Sladden (@ChloeS), Twitter?s media head, indicated that the company?s partners in television were requesting for a single standard that will measure how viewers respond to their shows and programs. The collaboration between Twitter and Nielsen will identify the full audience for TV activities, which then present the audiences that are included in the conversations as well as individuals who are part of the rating process. Details include the total number of people watching as well as the potential effects of social TV on actual TV programming. Steve Hasker, president of global media products and advertising solutions of Nielsen, shared in a press release a number of things to expect from the new product. He cited that online advertisers that make integrated advertising campaigns that mix earned and paid media will certainly be at an advantage. The ratings will be ideal for advertisements in many areas, particularly beyond the campaign level. Advertising experts can also make use of the metric standard to point out TV shows that are not performing well traditionally but can trend well online. The information provided can be used by TV programmers to know more about the engagement on their shows. The hashtag #TwitterTV has also been created to discuss the details and features of the upcoming project. People can share their own ideas and indicate the things and type of information that will be helpful in their TV and advertising activities. Here's the tweeting activity on?#TwitterTV as of this writing.