The agreement will see Nielsen measure recently launched digital network MovieSphere Gold, from Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury.

Nielsen will measure viewing across nearly 130 local TV markets by aggregating MovieSphere’s FAST audience with MovieSphere Gold’s over-the-air local affiliate viewership.

The company said that this would provide market intelligence to better understand its audiences, strategically partner with affiliates and boost the channel’s expansion and viewership. 

Amilcar Perez, chief revenue officer at Nielsen, said: “As more viewers are embracing ad-supported streaming, we’re proud to provide the industry with the data and insights they need to understand and expand their audiences.”

Derek Turk, senior vice-president of ratings and research at Lionsgate, said: “Nielsen’s new measurement capability will give us a comprehensive view of our audience across traditional and over-the-air local affiliates via more than 170 stations nationwide for the first time.”