Bravo, E! and USA Network are the latest networks to move to reporting only Live+3 ratings data for their shows, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment announced Thursday during its Television Critics Association Winter press tour presentation.
The company announced it will only distribute Live+SD (same day) ratings – which has been the traditional measurement standard – for sports/entertainment, specials and event programming.
The move to Live +3 ratings for Bravo, E! Entertainment, Esquire Network, Oxygen Network, Sprout, Syfy and USA Network, follows similar moves from FX and HBO, which also have moved away from reporting Live +SD ratings for its shows. Those networks feel Live+3 ratings more accurately represent the amount of viewers watching a particular show given the increase in DVR, VOD and digital program viewing.
NBCUniversal reports that a number of series have seen significant increases from L+SD to Live+3 ratings among Adults 18-49 including USA's Graceland (+83%); Bravo's Top Chef (+81%); Syfy's Dominion (+80%); USA's Royal Pains (+77%) E!’s “The Soup” (+65%).
“Increasingly, Live+3 metrics are a more accurate reflection of the performance, appeal and reach of our networks’ original programs,” said Liz Mahaffey, EVP, Brand Strategy for NBCU Cable Entertainment in a statement. “Considering ever-growing use of DVR, VOD, digital and other non-linear viewing options, L+SD is merely a chapter in a much larger and more diverse ratings story.”
