EW spoke with a rep for Nielsen to get a better understanding.
Outside of awards, the film seems to be receiving just as much attention.
Before dropping on Netflix,The Irishmanscreened in select theaters in five markets, beginning on Nov. 1.
Niko Tavernise/Netflix
To date, the film grossed $825,204.
So, is this a success for Netflix?
There are so many different variables that go into defining a success, Fuhrer says.
However, he did add thatThe Irishmandefinitely did have a strong audience.
Netflix records its metrics internally differently.
If one Netflix user account watches at least 70 percent of a film, that counts as one view.
For TV, theres more nuance, as a Netflix rep mentioned over previous emails.
One view is added if a user account watches at least 70 percent of one episode of a series.
(The same rules about multiple users in the same account applies.)
How many of those accounts include those users who binged the entire first season ofYOU?
How many only watched 70 percent of the first episode and washed their hands of it?
The other major SVOD platform that Nielsen tracks is Amazon.
A rep for Amazon declined to speak on this topic.
Why it matters
There are even more discrepancies between how Nielsen and Netflix track their shows.
(And Amazon remains quiet on the topic.)
Nielsen tracks in the U.S. only, while Netflix tracks worldwide.
SVOD platforms, however, are not standard television, which makes this process difficult.
Thats why Fuhrer says theyre constantly trying to refine their data.
The question that everyone asks is, What is my rating?'
Fuhrer mentions of Nielsens clientele.
So theres a little bit of tension in the industry.
One such tension includes shows likeYOU.
By its season finale, it drew 526,000 overnight views.
Netflix had already scooped up the international rights toYOUbefore then taking the domestic rights.
It was thenpicked back up by Pop TV.
They [Sony TV] took the viewers on Netflix and they showed that they over indexed.
These are heavy viewers of comedy on broadcast networks.
Yes, we have a few.
The main thing is to not blow these numbers out of proportion.
There are always blanks spots and there are always new blank spots, he adds, but the No.
1 takeaway is to verify you see this [data] so you might appropriately evaluate the content.
Netflix, too, has promised more transparency, though were not sure when that time will come.
For Nielsen, Fuhrer says, The biggest thing right now is just continue to generate the data.
