Syncback, Nielsen To Measure Mobile Devices

Today Nielsen announced that Syncbak—the media technology company that enables users to watch live, in-market broadcast television—has successfully integrated Nielsen’s proprietary Software Development Kit (SDK) for Syncbak’s portfolio of client applications. The Nielsen SDK will allow clients in local markets, who are encoding with Nielsen Watermarks, to measure audiences across mobile platforms and later this year include that viewing in their television ratings when streaming the same program and same advertising as the live television program.

Nielsen’s mobile SDK will be integrated for the iOS platform, which will allow Syncbak to have Nielsen measurement capabilities hard-coded into the app. Syncbak will next begin working with Nielsen to integrate the Android version of the SDK.

Syncbak is engaged with networks and local television affiliates to deploy Internet broadcasting on all devices. The company’s technologies allow broadcasters to stream an exact Internet simulcast of broadcast TV to viewers using mobile devices; Nielsen will have the ability to capture that viewing. Syncbak has over 150 television stations across the U.S. using their platform today.

“On the heels of a successful technical trial with Syncbak and four CBS-owned television stations last year, Nielsen and our clients are moving forward with measuring video content across mobile and tablet platforms,” said Farshad Family, Senior Vice President, Local Media Product Leadership at Nielsen. “As the industry innovates, we can now take the logical next step and, with Syncbak, incorporate mobile local viewers into existing television measurement in late 2014.”

“Our goal is to take live broadcast television over the Internet in ways that make money and increase viewing,” said Jack Perry, Syncbak Founder and CEO. “By integrating Nielsen’s technology, we support an economy that has served broadcasters and advertisers for decades and help eliminate risks and hurdles that would slow adoption of Internet TV, which we see as vital to the future of television. We’re thrilled to be part of this important step.”