diff --git a/nielsen/src/integration/NielsenHandler.ts b/nielsen/src/integration/NielsenHandler.ts
index dfbe10a3..758c61e6 100644
--- a/nielsen/src/integration/NielsenHandler.ts
+++ b/nielsen/src/integration/NielsenHandler.ts
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ export class NielsenHandler {
 
     private maybeSendPlayEvent(): void {
         if (this.sessionInProgress || Number.isNaN(this.duration)) return;
+        this.sessionInProgress = true;
         if (this.dtvrEnabled) {
-            this.sessionInProgress = true;
             const metadataObject = {
                 channelName: this.player.src,
                 length: this.duration