Nielsen has announced it will create within its National People Meter panel a “single source” measurement for both television and online consumption of video content.  They revealed in September they will include internet viewing figures to National People Meter households and are deploying internet useage meters beginning in December.

This move will give Nielsen who are the major tracker of tv viewing figures,  the ability to measure all online tv from Hulu and networks online tv sites to the TV Everywhere concept models.

They currently make use of around 18000 households in its national panel of viewers, of which around 7500 will have their online viewing habits tracked. The sample size represents 20000 people and 12000 computers.

It is reported that Nielsen started the online measurment following a client insurgency that could threaten its TV ratings franchise, and grumblings from the networks which are putting more content than ever online.

Three years in development, Nielsen today told clients it will begin installing electronic meters in Nielsen homes to measure web activity, which will ultimately allow it to include online viewing in its standard TV ratings service. The hope is a “single source” of data will allow accurate comparisons between TV and online, allowing ratings to include, for instance, viewing for “The Daily Show” Comedy Central, Hulu and ComedyCentral.com.

Nielsen hopes to begin collecting data by August, 2010. In September the company claimed it would have the system in place by 2011, so are ahead of schedule.

Related posts:

1. Nielsen To Start Incorporating Internet TV Viewing Figures
2. Nielsen Shows Increase In Online Viewing Numbers For February
3. TV Viewing Figures Reach All Time High
4. Hulu Viewing Figures Take A Dive As Comscore Revamp Data Measuring
5. Hulu Showing Record Viewing Figures For October