Currency Certification 2026-2028 Term: How A Number Is Made

As television measurement has evolved, buyers and sellers have more choice but also more complexity in understanding how different audience estimates are produced.

As part of its 2026-2028 Currency Certification, the U.S. Joint Industry Committee (JIC) developed “How a Number Is Made”, a framework for understanding the methodological choices behind modern television measurement. The report breaks down the primary stages of measurement – from viewing observation and population definition to person assignment and metric calculation – and provides a plain-English view of how each JIC-certified provider approaches them.

The JIC’s goal isn't to determine which methodology is best. It's to give buyers, sellers and the broader marketplace greater transparency into how a number becomes a number and why reported audiences may differ across providers.

The JIC is making a synthesized version of How a Number Is Made available to the broader industry as part of its commitment to greater measurement transparency. Complete the form below to access the report.

Download the Industry Report below.

Looking for a deeper analysis?
JIC members receive access to the comprehensive report and detailed measurement-provider responses developed through the certification process. Learn more about JIC membership →