Nielsen will start measuring Netflix viewership in December

By Mike Flacy November 18, 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.

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

The best on-demand streaming services

Amazon Fire TV Streaming Stick 4K

Of the nearly countless on-demand streaming services out there, three stand out: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix. Unfortunately, choosing which one is worthy of your credit card information and time isn't an easy task -- and with a combined subscription fee that's north of $40, subscribing to all three isn't a viable option for most.

Even if you're cutting the cord, the trio -- merged with a channel-specific service such as CBS All Access or HBO and a live TV platform such as Sling TV -- could add up to the same monthly cost as your traditional cable or satellite. So much for those cord-cutting savings, huh? That's why it's important to understand what you need from an on-demand streaming service. So, to help you find the best on-demand streamer for you, we've put together this comprehensive comparison guide.
Price
Amazon offers two main versions of its Prime subscription, either $119 annually or $13 per month (or $59 annually when you sign up with a valid student email address). Both versions net you the same perks, including two-day shipping -- or free one-day shipping in some cases -- discounted prices on select items, cloud storage, and, most importantly for our purposes, on-demand video (and music) streaming. The best part is that 4K Ultra HD content with HDR comes standard at no extra cost. Plus, you can share accounts with friends and family, so everyone can get in on the deals.
Netflix's various subscription tiers currently range from $9 to $18 depending on your desired video quality -- SD resolution is just $9 per month, but you can only stream on one device at a time. Moving up to HD will cost you $14 per month for two streams while moving up to 4K Ultra HD will now cost you $18 per month for four streams at a time. The prices will also go up should you add the DVD/Blu-ray rental service.
Hulu currently starts at just $7 for the ad-based service or $13 for the ad-free option (which we still highly recommend, even at nearly double the cost). Hulu's options don't stop there as it also offers a streaming live-TV package called Hulu+Live TV for $65 (increasing to $70 per month as of December 21, 2021), which is similar to Sling TV and YouTube TV. The subscription includes more than 75-plus channels on top of the service's regular on-demand library, and there are also add-on features at an additional fee, including a $6 fee to get rid of most ads altogether. You'll also get better savings with Hulu if you're a Disney+ and ESPN+ subscriber, as the illustrious Disney Bundle saves you $6 on the streaming trio.
Especially for those who want to stream 4K at the lowest possible price, Amazon is the cheapest bet and has stated that the company won't raise prices for 4K streaming. The sheer number of extra features and benefits included in Amazon Prime gives it an advantage over its competitors, as well. Throw in Amazon's student discount, and this is an easy win.
Winner: Amazon

Entertainment

Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Video

sling tv expands spanish language programming 25151395 man sitting on a sofa watching with hands folded behind his head jpg

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.