C3 / C7 Ratings (Commercial Ratings)

Average commercial-minute ratings that include live viewing plus three or seven days of time-shifted playback, long used as the basis for national TV deals.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

C3 and C7 ratings are Nielsen measures of average audience during commercial minutes, including live viewing plus three or seven days of time-shifted playback. They have long served as the currency for national TV ad deals. By measuring ads rather than programs, they reflect what advertisers buy, though alternative currencies increasingly challenge them.