2006-08-21 14:09:26 · 13 answers · asked by Peter McKoy 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
bcs, how would they know hat 3million people are watching american idol.... or 2 million watching prison break...
2006-08-21 14:14:18 · update #1
An independent company called Nielsen Media Research collects information about the number of people watching each televised program from a random selection of homes. This information is used by all broadcast & cable television networks in the U.S. and provides the television industry with viewer demographics and program ratings.
2006-08-21 14:17:11 · answer #1 · answered by naughtykitty_13 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are surveys that are sent out in various markets and based on the response they calculate what percentage of people are watching or not watching.
I've participated in such a survey one year some time ago. Not fun, must record every little detail: what time is the tv on, what channel, who's watching, is any one watching or is the tv on to an empty room, when did you leave the room, when did you change the channel, did you watch the commercials, when did you turn the tv off, was the tv off while persons were in the house/room - - lots and lots of questions.
2006-08-21 14:22:14 · answer #2 · answered by swm_seeks_sf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Nielsen group is responsible for generating the numbers given to TV stations, they mail forms to random people, and when they get them back use the data to determine approximately how many people were watching a show, Ive gotten this form in the mail before, and they even send five bucks in the envelope to make it worth you re while
2006-08-21 14:25:26 · answer #3 · answered by ♫jmann♫ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm in Aus... and here we have a system where a particular percentage of the population have a box which records what stations they are watching.
So when they say 2,000,000 were watching Idol for example, it is really just an average based on the people who have the box.
Seems strange doesnt it? I used to wonder the same thing. :)
2006-08-21 14:17:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have that stupid Nielson rating or something. A box that so many people have that records what they watch. Then they take that number and calculate from it the approximate number of people who are watching. I guess. They probably have spyware that sends info from the cable or satellite box back to the companies, truth be known.
2006-08-21 14:18:40 · answer #5 · answered by The Nana of Nana's 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it kinda works like congress 1 senator represents a state of many where 1 household will represent what 20 houses in the neighborhood is watching. I like when you see a poll in magazines it say "23% of women in America like this", but its really only 23% of the 2500 women they polled
2006-08-21 14:21:03 · answer #6 · answered by jro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by cable and sattalite i think so yes becuase of the box, but if u only have the channels that come on without cable or sattalite-u know the fuzzy ones that don't come in good no i don't think so. maybe they know how many by the turn out of buyers of products durning the tv show.
2006-08-21 14:21:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where do you think they collect data for ratings? They don't call every single household to ask them what channel they're watching. It's a chip inside your television.
LOL & Be Good...=)
2006-08-21 14:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by feva 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nielsen tracks how many people watch a particular show.
2006-08-21 14:15:50 · answer #9 · answered by descartesprotege 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They take a census and extrapolate the results into millions.
2006-08-21 14:26:13 · answer #10 · answered by The "Spence" 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋