• Join Puck

    Directly Supporting Authors

    A new economic model in which writers are also partners in the business.

    Personalized Subscriptions

    Customize your settings to receive the newsletters you want from the authors you follow.

    Stay in the Know

    Connect directly with Puck talent through email and exclusive events.

  • What is puck? Newsletters Authors Podcasts Events Gift Puck Careers

Nielsen, Schmielsen

The venerable TV tracking company has become something of an industry punching bag after a methodological wrinkle showed broadcast beating streaming. What happens if we lose the faith entirely?

Inner Circle Exclusive
family tv home
In February, Nielsen delayed its monthly report, seemingly at the behest of streamers who’d freaked out about a dramatic drop in their viewership numbers following a methodology tweak. Photo: Camerique/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Julia Alexander
March 24, 2026

Join Puck to listen to this article

In this late stage of the streaming wars, media executives are often just as fixated on how people are watching TV as what they are watching. Each month, Nielsen—and more specifically, the Nielsen Gauge—produces reams of data on total viewership across streaming, broadcast, and cable, providing a sort of running tally of who’s up and down. Last June, for instance, Nielsen reported that streaming had officially eclipsed linear TV (broadcast plus cable) for the first time—a milestone that made headlines across the trades.

Inner Circle Exclusive

Join us in the Inner Circle

Becoming an Inner Circle member now takes you even more inside to exclusive coverage you won't get anywhere else
Join Inner Circle
  • Exclusive bonus days of select newsletters
  • Exclusive access to Puck merch
  • Early bird access to new Editorial and Product features
  • Invitations to private conference calls with Puck authors