• by Wayne Friedman , August 26, 2016

In addition, Nielsen says total U.S. TV viewers -- those 2 years and older -- have increased 1.6% to 301.7 million.

Nielsen says 96% of all U.S. homes with TV sets are getting traditional TV signals via broadcast, cable, DBS or telco, or having a broadband Internet connection -- an increase of 0.8% from last year’s estimate.

A year ago, there was a decline for the 2015-2016 TV season -- to 95.2% -- from the 2014-2015 season, when it was 96.1%.

Nielsen says: “The 2017 National Universe Estimates reflect real changes in population since last year and updated TV penetration levels, differentially calculated for qualifying market break and age/sex demographic categories.”

In early 2013, Nielsen revised the definition of its “Cable Plus” universe of TV homes -- those who get TV via cable, satellite or telco -- to also include broadband-only homes.

Then in early 2015, after conversations with its clients, Nielsen removed those broadband-only homes from Cable Plus. Over the period, it also maintained separate estimates for broadband-only homes. In December 2015, there were 99.7 million Cable Plus homes.

In December 2014 -- the old definition including broadband-only homes -- Cable Plus homes were at 104.1 million. Taking out broadband-only homes for December 2014, Cable Plus numbers were at 101 million homes.

Nielsen’s national definition of a TV home is that it must have at least one TV and/or monitor with the ability to deliver video via traditional means of antennae, cable set-top box or satellite receiver and/or with a broadband connection.