TV Networks Frustrated by Nielsen’s Count of Audiences During Coronavirus

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNBC’s “Tonight Show” will try a new way to break out of TV’s late-night pack.The Jimmy Fallon-led program is launching a new six-episode miniseries that chronicles how the show maneuvered during the coronavirus pandemic, moving to “at home” broadcasts that featured the host and his family, and its eventual return to NBC’s TV studios with fewer bells and whistles.

Last October, Viggo Mortensen teased the possibility of working with filmmaker David Cronenberg on a new film sometime in 2021. At the time, considering how long it’s been since Cronenberg’s most recent feature film work (2014’s “Maps to the Stars”), fans were a bit apprehensive about believing it might actually happen.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorOpen AP, the media consortium that hopes to broaden the practice known as “audience buying,” will unveil a new “identifier” aimed at facilitating the placement of commercials across linear TV and digital video — and a significant chunk of traditional TV and advertising companies are lining up to support the venture.AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Crown Media, Discovery, Disney, Fox Corporation, NBCUniversal, Univision, ViacomCBS, WarnerMedia and The Weather Channel

Prince William and Kate Middleton are continuing to honor Prince Philip following his death at the age of 99. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Duke of Edinburgh's intimate funeral service over the weekend and on Wednesday, the couple paid a special tribute to Philip during a visit to the Air Cadets 282 East Ham Squadron. Kate took over the royal patronage for the Air Cadets from Philip in 2015 before he retired from royal duties a few years later.

Roy Trakin Cannabis and country music icon Willie Nelson will be one of the keynote speakers at the virtual marijuana convention Luck Summit: Planting the Seed, taking place on April 26-29 in Nelson’s hometown of Luck, TX.“I think that people are realizing more and more that cannabis is a positive thing,” said Nelson.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNBCUniversal said it hired a senior executive from Nielsen to oversee new efforts to help advertisers measure their commercials’ reach and effectiveness amid an outbreak of new tensions between the TV networks and the large measurement company.Kelly Abcarian was named executive vice president of measurement and impact at NBCU’s ad-sales unit, charged with helping advertisers find ways to gauge how many consumers their marketing efforts reach across NBCU’s

Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane Stapleton, were set to perform «Maggie's Song» at this year's ACM Awards. However, when the performance came, some fans were surprised to see Miranda Lambert sitting in for the number.As it turns out, Morgane had to step away due to a prior doula commitment, ET has learned.In her place, Miranda joined the artist, meaning she was a part of three different performances during Sunday's show.

Meghan Markle was unable to attend the funeral of her husband Prince Harry‘s grandfather Prince Philip, but she did something to pay tribute to him while at home in California.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNielsen has flatly rejected demands from major networks for an outside audit of its TV ratings for the past year amid complaints that Nielsen has undercounted viewers during the pandemic lockdown period.In what would appear to be a rebuke to demands that the TV-ratings giant submit its recent audience measurement to an independent review by consultant Ernst & Young, Nielsen said Friday that it already is examined regularly by the Media Rating Council.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCBS, ABC, NBC and other TV networks want the company that audits their audiences every day to submit to an audit of its own.The VAB, an industry group that represents the TV networks to Madison Avenue, is demanding that Nielsen, the arbiter of TV ratings, submit to a third-party audit from Ernst and Young, the latest salvo in a battle between to the two sides over how TV audiences were counted during the coronavirus pandemic.

About as far from a typical Oscar contender as you could imagine, the micro-budgeted Sound of Metal has nonetheless proved to be a genuine long-distance runner since it debuted a year and a half ago at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe media industry’s go-to authority for measuring audiences acknowledged on Friday that the recent coronavirus pandemic bent its yardstick, but maintains nothing is broken.Nielsen, under fire from the TV networks that depend on it to count the audiences for which advertisers pay, says pandemic conditions resulted in a smaller panel of consumers it relies on to monitor TV viewing, but believes the trends it chronicles during 2020 remain viable.

Giving credit where credit is due! Nikki Bella gave a shout-out to her ex-fiancé John Cena during her and twin sister Brie Bella’s speech at the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorSometimes, the simple act of counting can result in something much more complex.Nielsen and the TV networks whose audiences it measures typically work hand in hand to tell the world about how many people watch some of the nation’s most-watched comedies and dramas.

Krystal Nielson is introducing her baby girl to the world. The former star took to Instagram Monday to reveal her daughter's name. «It’s official!!! Glitter baby has a name!!! ✨

Mariah Carey is having a medical moment, darling.

No drama here!