Nielsen, TV Networks in Showdown Over Counting Viewers Amid Pandemic (EXCLUSIVE)

Out to eat! Tristan Thompson adorably took his 3-year-old daughter, True, to dinner.

Friendly exes! After Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley called off their engagement, the twosome are moving forward.

The drama continues. Erika Jayne is being sued in yet another lawsuit amid her ongoing legal woes with estranged husband Tom Girardi.

“Self compassion & manifesting a  life without someone you love can still lead you to a place of joy.“Thank u for your kind messages X.” (sic)Upon coming across the post today, Amanda quote-tweeted it to add: “Babe??? Text me!! Xxx”Laila has so far received an outpouring of support and sympathy from fans on social media.Her tweet helped other Twitter users speak out on their breakups as they agreed with her reflection.JadeLJohnson7 said: “Exactly! I've never had a break up and NOT moved on to a better understanding of who I am, and also to someone who is better suited for who I've become.“Letting go can be tough, but often that space is necessary for self growth to happen.”Thomashiscock typed: “You may not be together anymore but the love and memories will always be there.“I feel ya because I've had to do the same thing after 10 years and for  8.5 years of that time we were husband and wife.“So I'm 100% get you. Always here if you need anything x” (sic)Rachelx002 penned: “Sorry that you and Ronnie have split.

Joan Collins celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary in style on Thursday.

Stranger Thingsis officially coming to an end after season five.The timing of the show's ending was revealed on Thursday, as it was explained that the upcoming season four will be split into two parts.The announcement about the hit Netflix show was released on the streaming giant's official Twitter account, and an official poster for the new set of episodes was also shared.It was stated that the first part of the series' fourth season would make its debut on May 27th while its second would premiere on July 1st, and it was also confirmed that its fifth season would be its last. Coming soon:The two parts of the fourth season of the highly popular science fiction series Stranger Things have officially been given release datesSeries creatorsMatt and Ross Duffer also released an open letter where they discussed their hopes and aspirations for the upcoming run of episodes.The showrunners also confirmed that, while Stranger Things' fourth season would be the show's longest as of yet, it would also serve as the show's penultimate release.

Zendaya and Tom Holland continued to be couple goals while watching some professional hockey goals on Thursday night.

“My favorite type of date nights,” Tristan Thompson captioned the Instagram Story he posted on Thursday evening. In the Feb. 17 clip, Tristan, 30, and his daughter, True Thompson, appear to be having dinner at a restaurant. The Sacramento Kings player took a break from his place of snow peas (edamame?) to look at the camera and make his best Cookie Monster impression. “Om nom nom nom!” said Tristan, before leaning in to give True, 3, a kiss on the side of her head.

2022 is already proving to be the year of big milestones. Kate Middleton turned forty last month, Orlando Bloom turned 45 in January, and now ghd’s Original Styler is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Like any noughties icon returning to the scene two decades later, it’s had a bit of a makeover.

Jamie Redknapp's youngest son Raphael takes after his side of the family as many have likened the tiny tot's facial expressions to his famous granddad, Harry Redknapp.MORE: Inside Jamie Redknapp and wife Frida's luxurious Maldives honeymoon with baby RaphaelAfter sharing a series of snapshots from his Maldives honeymoon with wife Frida, followers were quick to react - with many suggesting that little Raphael takes after the former football manager.WATCH: Jamie Redknapp's son Raphael takes after his dad in adorable video"He really looks like Harry here," remarked one, while another stated: "Little guy looks very like his grandad Harry." A third post read: "Got yours and your dad's looks awe."MORE: Jamie Redknapp's wife Frida stuns in crocheted halterneck bikini in must-see honeymoon snapsMORE: Jamie Redknapp expresses heartache after ex-wife Louise reveals family deathOn Thursday, Jamie then shared a heartwarming video of his three-month-old son playing with his parents. "What do you mean everyone says we look like twins? I look nothing like you pops," the dad-of-three joked.He later added a snapshot, and wrote in the caption: "Nanny, Pop and Raphael [heart emoji] #twins." His Swedish model wife was quick to add a heart emoji underneath.Followers also reacted, with one writing: "Ahhh he's spit of you!!! Gorgeous little chubby cheeks." Another said: "That's a beautiful picture, they look so proud." Another post read: "He's got your eyes, what a gorgeous baby." Jamie shared this cute photo of his son with his parentsJamie and Frida, who tied the knot in October, only recently returned from their honeymoon in the Maldives, along with their baby son Rafael.

Congratulations are in order for Adriana Lima! The 40-year-old supermodel revealed on Feb. 18 that she’s pregnant with her third child, and her first with boyfriend Andre Lemmers. Adriana took to TikTok to announce the news. Using the social media platform for the first time, Adriana posted a compilation video of Andre scaring her in different places. There’s a twist at the end, though, as she reveals it’s now HER turn to scare him. After taking a positive pregnancy test, Adriana shares the news with her man, and he’s definitely in shock!

A “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movie made for 2022 is a low-expectation enterprise. Is it set in Texas? Is there a massacre? How about a chainsaw? Check the boxes, and off you go.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorIn today’s podcast news roundup, Willa Fitzgerald stars in Fictionz’s two narrative podcast series based on Aimee Bender short stories; influencer Tinx gets a podcast and radio show with SiriusXM; Spotify’s The Ringer deconstructs celebrity tabloid culture; the 2022 Ambies awards nominations are out; and more.Fictionz, the subscription app for narrative podcasts based on short stories, books and original ideas written by women, announced that Willa Fitzgerald (Prime Video’s “Reacher,” MTV’s “Scream”) will narrate and lend her voice to adaptations of two of Aimee Bender’s short stories, “Off” and “Call My Name.” Both are slated to premiere in April on the Fictionz app. “Off” is about a young rich woman at a party with a singular goal — to kiss a redhead, a blond and a brunette — but things don’t go exactly as she planned; her ex-boyfriend (and “the blond”) is being voiced by Will Roland (“Billions”).

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNielsen has flatly rejected demands from major networks for an outside audit of its TV ratings for the past year amid complaints that Nielsen has undercounted viewers during the pandemic lockdown period.In what would appear to be a rebuke to demands that the TV-ratings giant submit its recent audience measurement to an independent review by consultant Ernst & Young, Nielsen said Friday that it already is examined regularly by the Media Rating Council. That industry organization has maintained media research standards for decades and its membership includes most major media companies, media buying agencies and many big advertisers such as Walgreens, Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorIt won’t have the bowls of shrimp or free drinks, but TV’s annual week of upfront presentations will look a little more like its pre-pandemic norm.NBCU intends to kick off the industry’s usual week of presentations May 17 with a virtual event that will feature looks at  scripted and unscripted originals, sports, news, and live events, and include cameos from actors and senior executives from across the company. NBCU, which last year aired a “30 Rock” reunion special that doubled as a preview of its program schedule ), said its 2021 event “will take place on the sets of many of the biggest shows in premium video.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCBS, ABC, NBC and other TV networks want the company that audits their audiences every day to submit to an audit of its own.The VAB, an industry group that represents the TV networks to Madison Avenue, is demanding that Nielsen, the arbiter of TV ratings, submit to a third-party audit from Ernst and Young, the latest salvo in a battle between to the two sides over how TV audiences were counted during the coronavirus pandemic. The networks allege Nielsen let its system, which is the bedrock of advertising deals for TV programs, degrade as the nation went into lockdown, and undercounted TV viewership.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorShaquille O’Neal says he turned to The General when he was in college and no one would give him a good price on car insurance. “When I was in college, The General was the only insurance I could afford,” he says in an interview.These days, he’s helping the company win new recruits.Once known primarily for sprinkling dozens of direct-response ads around cable, The General is changing tactics.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAs more states start to allow residents to take part in sports wagering, ESPN has come up with a game presentation just for them. Executives call it the “BetCast.”On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Disney sports-media giant will air an alternate feed of an NBA game that pits the Brooklyn Nets against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe media industry’s go-to authority for measuring audiences acknowledged on Friday that the recent coronavirus pandemic bent its yardstick, but maintains nothing is broken.Nielsen, under fire from the TV networks that depend on it to count the audiences for which advertisers pay, says pandemic conditions resulted in a smaller panel of consumers it relies on to monitor TV viewing, but believes the trends it chronicles during 2020 remain viable. “What we have seen is that the decline in linear is definitely increasing,” Mainak Mazumdar, Nielsen’s chief data and research officer, says in an interview.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe nation’s TV networks claim the primary arbiter of who watches their programs allowed its business to deteriorate during the coronavirus pandemic and has only devised “a four-ounce solution to a ten-pound problem” of trying to count TV viewers during an unprecedented era in history.Speaking Thursday, Sean Cunningham, the CEO of the VAB, a trade organization that represents the broadcast and cable networks to Madison Avenue, alleged that measurement giant Nielsen essentially allowed the panel of viewers that is at the crux of how it tracks viewership to degrade during the pandemic, resulting in a significant undercounting of audience that TV executives charge clashes with other sources of viewership data.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTwo CBS veterans, Peter Dunn and David Friend, are leaving their top roles at CBS’ local-stations division as an investigation continues into allegations they were abusive to women and employees of color.“Peter Dunn, President of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, Senior Vice President of News for the Stations group, will not return to their positions and will be leaving the Company.