The NFL is publicly accusing its longtime ratings partner Nielsen of “systematically undercounting” millions of viewers, a claim first reported by The Wall Street Journal, creating a high-stakes conflict over billions in ad revenue just as the new season begins. The dispute centers on how viewers are tallied, particularly for streaming and group viewing, even as the league cautiously supports Nielsen’s latest tech overhaul.
A party of one: The league’s core complaint is focused on “co-viewing”—Nielsen's method for counting groups of people watching a single screen. The NFL claims that Nielsen’s formula fails to capture the reality of how fans watch games together, especially during massive events like the Super Bowl or Thanksgiving, potentially leaving millions of viewers off the official count.
Frenemies with benefits: In a confusing twist, the NFL isn’t entirely ditching Nielsen. While publicly airing its grievances, the league is also endorsing the company’s new “Big Data + Panel” system, calling the integration of data from millions of smart TVs a "positive step" forward. Nielsen, for its part, countered by projecting this will be the "most accurately rated football season in history".
The streaming battleground: The public fight highlights a fundamental tension as streaming-exclusive NFL games become more valuable for advertisers. With its patience wearing thin, the league confirmed it has been exploring alternatives, name-dropping analytics firm VideoAmp as an "intriguing" possibility.
This isn't just a numbers dispute; it's a power play to define value as the league's media future becomes increasingly fragmented across broadcast and streaming, turning the once-arcane business of counting viewers into a multi-billion dollar fight.
Also on our radar: While the league and Nielsen debate the size of the audience, advertisers in sectors like banking and finance are already seeing highly effective returns from their NFL ad spend. Some brands are even skipping traditional TV entirely, with dozens advertising exclusively on Amazon Prime Video's games last season. Meanwhile, the league is also expanding its global footprint, reportedly striking its first deal to bring regular season games to free-to-air TV in the UK and Ireland.
