People now watch so many programs at so many different times in so many different ways that measuring viewership has become a hot debate in the industry.
Last month, the Golden Globes drew 10.1 million viewers. No, wait, maybe 9.3 million.
The very same night, “Sunday Night Football” attracted 28.5 million people. Scratch that, perhaps it was 25.8 million.
The “Yellowstone” finale? Possibly 11 million — or 8 million?
Ratings have long been the currency of the TV business, helping to determine how much media companies can charge for commercials. But the $60 billion that advertisers spend on television each year largely depends on a shared leap of faith that the numbers are as good as gold.
