How do television networks and radio stations know how many people are listening to their shows?

Question

Could you please explain whether it is scientifically done or by mathematical means (i.e sampling).

I mean after the program was shown they say this many people tuned in.
For example the Royal Weding of Diana and Charles, how did they know so many people watched it?

My dad said that for radio they measure how strong the radio signals are. If there are a lot of listners the signals are weaker. Can anyone verify this?

Answer 1

there are two ways in which it is done, the first way is by sampling people and filling in the questionairres you often find in cd inserts etc which offer a prize or other services you want eg info on certain pop group so you fill in the questionaire
the second way and more advanced way is people are chosen at random to have an electronic box fitted to their tv/ radio and this measures what prog you watch / listen to how long for what days and how often, and from tese random tests they can apply their results to mass population
I think your dads way is good theory but is flawed as many factors can affect signal strength, and doesnt diminish depending on how many people are recieving it

Answer 2

I am pretty sure it is sampling, like they will survey 1000-1500 people and then they just multiply that out and give an estimate, within a few percentage points, like a political poll. I have never understood this though, I don't think that a sample of people speak for everyone else. But I guess that they probably know what they are doing........I guess.

Answer 3

Neilsen has two types of polls. One is a box attached to your TV. There is a button for each viewer in the house. Everytime someone starts and stops watching TV they press a button. I can't imagine why anyone would want to take part in that.

I took part in a one week poll for Nielsen where I filled out a log with every show I watched and mailed it back to them. For all that work I received the huge sum of $1.

BTW: They have their own scientific method of selecting where to poll. You can not volunteer to be a poller.

Answer 4

TV and radio stations use sevices like Neilsen (TV) and Arbitron (radio). These services seek people to keep a written log of what TV shows and radio programs thew view/listen to.

The data is returned to these companies, and they determine the programs' ratings. It's a method of sampling.

Answer 5

Television uses "boxes" similar to a cable box that moniters what is being watched and at what times. They use ramdom selection as to whom has such a box and pay them a small fee to participate. Radio on the other hand, uses random polling. Usually done by telemarketers and occassional "mall polls"

Answer 6

Man I've always wanted to know the answer to that one. My mom said they survey countless people and do the percentage from that. If they surveyed 10 people and 3 of them watch Flavor Flav then they say that 30% of Americans watched Flavor of Love last night.

Answer 7

they have a number of houses with a device in and everyone who watches the tv or who come in half way through a film has to sign in they collect this data and then work out how many people would be watching if every one had this device based on the % of people watching and using the device

Answer 8

There already is - it somewhat is talked approximately as the lame street media and it somewhat is all of the media that may not owned by utilising Rupert Murdoch. playstation . exhibiting video clips on a radio station would not artwork besides as one might think of.

Answer 9

No they take an average selection of people and use that as a sample

The radio surveys are done by a company called RAJAR.

Answer 10

They do it by sampling, asking the man in the street, also some pollsters have a base of viewers who note what they have watched.