Nielsen data shows Disney maintains media leadership as Fox sets viewing records
Latest Nielsen Media Distributor Gauge reveals shifting TV landscape with Disney at 11.1% and Fox reaching record 8.6% viewership.
In a significant shift in television viewership patterns documented just 12 days before today's date, Nielsen's November Media Distributor Gauge has revealed notable changes across the broadcasting landscape. According to data released on December 17, 2024, Disney maintained its dominant position for the third consecutive month, capturing 11.1% of total television viewing time.
The measurement period, which spanned from October 28 through November 24, 2024, demonstrated the growing influence of streaming platforms within traditional media companies. Disney's streaming services contributed substantially to its success, accounting for 43% of its total viewing share.
FOX achieved a remarkable milestone during this period. According to Nielsen's data, the network secured an 8.6% share of television viewing time, establishing a new company record for the second month in a row. This achievement was driven by multiple factors: FOX News Channel experienced a 20% increase in viewership, while the network's broadcast affiliates saw an 8% uptick in audience numbers, bolstered by coverage of the final three World Series games alongside NFL and college football programming.
YouTube's performance in November proved particularly noteworthy, as the platform reached its highest-ever share of television viewing at 10.8%. This positioned YouTube just 0.3 percentage points behind Disney, marking an increasingly competitive landscape in media distribution.
Netflix demonstrated significant growth during the measurement period, adding 0.2 share points to reach 7.7% of total television viewing. The streaming service experienced a notable spike in viewership during a specific event. According to Nielsen's November report, Netflix's share peaked at 8.5% during the third week of the interval, coinciding with the Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson fight on November 15. During prime time on fight night, Netflix captured 34% of all television viewing among males aged 18-49, a figure that represents approximately half of Super Bowl viewership and double that of a typical NFL regular season game for this demographic.
The traditional television sector also showed interesting developments. Hallmark Channel recorded the largest monthly increase among all distributors, with a 24% surge in viewership across its channels, resulting in a 1.4% share of overall television viewing time. This growth occurred even before the Thanksgiving holiday period, which fell outside the measurement interval.
The data reveals a complex media landscape where streaming and traditional broadcast platforms continue to compete for viewer attention. Warner Bros. Discovery maintained a 6.1% share of total viewing, while NBCUniversal secured 8.7% of the television audience. Paramount's performance remained stable at 9.3% of total viewing time.
Smaller media distributors also maintained their positions in the market, with Scripps holding 2.0% of viewing share, AMC Networks at 0.8%, and A+E Networks securing 1.1% of television viewing time. Amazon's Prime Video service captured 3.7% of the total television audience during the measurement period.
Luís Rijo
The Nielsen Media Distributor Gauge, which provides monthly measurements of total broadcast, cable, and streaming consumption through television screens, has been tracking these metrics since its expansion in April 2024. The measurement system follows the broadcast calendar, with weeks running from Monday through Sunday, offering a comprehensive view of audience engagement across all platforms.
These findings underscore the ongoing transformation in media consumption patterns, highlighting the increasing integration of traditional and digital platforms in the contemporary television landscape. The data demonstrates how major sporting events, political coverage, and specialized programming continue to influence viewing habits across different demographic groups.