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# Nielsen loses NZ TV ratings deal as OzTAM runs tender
- URL: https://www.promptthemarket.com/nielsen-new-zealand-tv-ratings-tvbeat-oztam/
- Published: 2026-10-17T23:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T22:59:59.000Z
- Description: TVNZ and Sky picked UK firm tvbeat, with Ipsos, to build a broadcast and streaming viewing system for mid-2027. tvbeat also works with Foxtel on digitally tracked linear TV spots.
- Author: Editor News
- Tags: Media, Australia, tvbeat, #author-xaviery-malinao

By **Xaviery Malinao** · 2026-10-17

TLDR

UK company tvbeat has won New Zealand's new television audience measurement contract, replacing Nielsen from mid-2027 with a system that combines broadcasters' first-party viewing data with Ipsos panel calibration. OzTAM put Australia's TV ratings contract out to tender in July 2026 for the first time since 2001, and tvbeat already works with Foxtel Media in Australia.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01TVNZ and Sky chose tvbeat as lead technology provider for New Zealand's unified TV measurement system from mid-2027.

02Nielsen retains the New Zealand contract only until June 2027 under an extension announced in August 2025.

03The new system merges linear broadcast and streaming data using broadcasters' own first-party viewing data, calibrated by Ipsos.

04OzTAM put Australia's TV ratings contract out to tender in July 2026, for the first time since 2001.

05tvbeat has worked with Foxtel Media in Australia since October 2024, converting linear TV spots into digitally tracked impressions.

## The contract

TVNZ and Sky have selected UK company tvbeat to lead a new Audience Measurement System for New Zealand television, with Ipsos supplying the Establishment Survey and MediaCell panel calibration. The announcement, confirmed by Ipsos on 15 October 2026, names tvbeat as lead technology provider and Ipsos as the independent research partner.[\[1\]](https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/advancing-total-tv-audience-measurement-nz?ref=promptthemarket.com) The process was run jointly by TVNZ and Sky, and the system is due to launch from mid-2027, when Nielsen's role ends.[\[3\]](https://stoppress.co.nz/news/media/tvnz-and-sky-partner-up-to-transform-audience-measurement/?ref=promptthemarket.com)

Nielsen is not gone yet. The company signed a contract extension in August 2025 covering July 2025 through to June 2027, giving broadcasters a managed runway to build what comes next.[\[2\]](https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2025/sky-and-tvnz-back-nielsen-as-nz-tv-measurement-provider-under-new-partnership/?ref=promptthemarket.com) Mumbrella's report carried no comment from Nielsen.[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## How the new system works

The new system combines large-scale first-party viewing data held by the broadcasters themselves with Ipsos panel calibration.[\[1\]](https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/advancing-total-tv-audience-measurement-nz?ref=promptthemarket.com) It will combine local broadcast and streaming viewing in one measure for the first time in New Zealand.[\[3\]](https://stoppress.co.nz/news/media/tvnz-and-sky-partner-up-to-transform-audience-measurement/?ref=promptthemarket.com)

Valerie Walshe, TVNZ's chief revenue officer, said "audiences don't think in platforms."[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com) Phil Lucy, Sky's chief sales officer, said: "This is about measuring what matters, in full."[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com) Robert Farazin, tvbeat's founder and chief executive, said "measurement needs to capture that full picture."[\[3\]](https://stoppress.co.nz/news/media/tvnz-and-sky-partner-up-to-transform-audience-measurement/?ref=promptthemarket.com)

## What it means for Australia

The New Zealand result lands at an awkward moment for Nielsen across the Tasman. In July, OzTAM put Australia's TV ratings contract out to tender for the first time since 2001, and Nielsen has held the official Australian ratings role for a quarter century.[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com)

tvbeat is not unknown to Australian buyers: Foxtel Media confirmed a partnership with the firm in October 2024 to convert linear television spots into digitally tracked impressions, independently audited by audience research company RSMB for Sky UK.[\[4\]](https://foxtelgroup.com.au/newsroom/foxtel-media-partners-with-tvbeat-to-digitise-linear-ad-impressions-for-enhanced-targeting-reporting-and-programmatic-trading?ref=promptthemarket.com)

OzTAM is not the only contest. In August, the Video Futures Collective announced a cross-media measurement system launching in 2027, capturing data from Amazon Prime, Disney, Foxtel, Netflix, Samsung Ads, SBS, Vevo and YouTube.[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com) Analyst Steve Allen expects a fight whoever wins: "There'll always be winners and losers," he said, adding that the losers will likely dispute the results.[\[5\]](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com)

For agencies and advertisers placing television budgets in Australia, the OzTAM tender has no publicly confirmed decision date, and the New Zealand transition itself does not complete until mid-2027.

Related coverage

- [Disney+ adds ads to its AU$24.99 Premium tier in Australia](https://www.promptthemarket.com/disney-adds-ads-to-its-au-24-99-premium-tier-in-australia/)
- [Amanda Laing leaves Nine as TV chief a week after its 2027 upfront](https://www.promptthemarket.com/nine-s-tv-chief-amanda-laing-quits-a-week-after-the-2027-upfront/)
- [Nine pitches itself to advertisers as the alternative to tech oligarchs](https://www.promptthemarket.com/nine-tells-advertisers-local-media-beats-global-platforms/)
- [AFL Grand Final draws 4.52m viewers as 7plus streams jump 44%](https://www.promptthemarket.com/afl-grand-final-draws-4-52m-viewers-as-7plus-streams-jump-44/)

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Advancing Total TV Audience Measurement in New Zealand, Ipsos](https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/advancing-total-tv-audience-measurement-nz?ref=promptthemarket.com)
2. [Sky and TVNZ back Nielsen as NZ TV measurement provider under new partnership, Nielsen](https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2025/sky-and-tvnz-back-nielsen-as-nz-tv-measurement-provider-under-new-partnership/?ref=promptthemarket.com)
3. [TVNZ and Sky partner up to transform audience measurement, StopPress](https://stoppress.co.nz/news/media/tvnz-and-sky-partner-up-to-transform-audience-measurement/?ref=promptthemarket.com)
4. [Foxtel Media partners with tvbeat to digitise linear ad impressions, Foxtel Group](https://foxtelgroup.com.au/newsroom/foxtel-media-partners-with-tvbeat-to-digitise-linear-ad-impressions-for-enhanced-targeting-reporting-and-programmatic-trading?ref=promptthemarket.com)
5. [Nielsen loses New Zealand TV audience measurement contract, Mumbrella](https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-loses-new-zealand-tv-audience-measurement-contract-941234?ref=promptthemarket.com)

[Xaviery Malinao](https://www.promptthemarket.com/xaviery-malinao/)

Xaviery Malinao writes for Prompt the Market on how brands and agencies are adapting to answer engines, drawing on Bushnote's work with clients across search, AI search and content.