Paramount Global and Nielsen have signed a new multi-year agreement, ending a months-long dispute over ratings measurement for CBS and other Paramount platforms. The deal reinstates Nielsen as the audience measurement provider for Paramount’s media outlets, including CBS, cable networks, Paramount+, and Pluto TV. Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao and Paramount Global co-CEO and CBS President and CEO George Cheeks announced the agreement.
Nielsen reported key viewership highlights, such as CBS’ broadcast of the AFC Championship Game on January 26, 2025, reaching 57.7 million viewers, setting a record for the AFC and marking the largest NFL conference championship audience in 15 years. CBS coverage of the 2024 NFL regular season featured three of the top five games in October, the most-watched game (27.5 million viewers) in November, and two of the top five in December.
Paramount and Nielsen renew partnership
Paramount networks also had successful programming, with the drama series “FBI: International” being the most-watched drama in October, November, and December of 2024, and the freshman hit “Fire Country” closely following in viewership. Paramount+ had significant streaming successes with “Tulsa King,” which ranked in Nielsen’s weekly streaming Top 10. George Cheeks of Paramount Global stated, “Paramount Global’s wins reported today are just one of many successes we look forward to with Nielsen as we build upon this new future together.”
The agreement strengthens the partnership between Paramount Global and Nielsen, emphasizing the importance of accurate and comprehensive audience measurement in the evolving media landscape.
Public sentiment on the announcement varied, with some viewers expressing enthusiasm about the return to Nielsen ratings, while others questioned the overall impact of ratings on programming decisions. The collaboration promises to bring continued insights into audience preferences and performance metrics as the entertainment industry navigates the changing digital and broadcast environment.