What method do TV networks use to guage number of viewers to a particular channel or program?

Question

Back in the day they used manual surveys by calling households to ask if they tuned in to a particular channel or program.

Answer 1

So now we have to answer this question yet again? Doesn't anybody search the archives anymore? That's what the archives are for. Or would that take too much time and effort?

There are two methods that Nielsen Media Research uses. The first is the People Meter, which Nielsen uses for the nationwide overnight ratings and is beginning to use in the larger television markets. The device monitors when the television is on and what channel is being watched. Members of the household have to "check in" whenever they are watching the set. At night, the device uploads data to Nielsen via modem.

Nielsen selects participating households at random.

The second method is the sweeps diary, which the smaller markets use during sweeps, which occur in November, February, May, and June. Participating households, selected at random, keep a diary for each television for one week. Members record the shows they watched and note when the television was on but nobody was watching, and what channel the television was on when nobody was watching.

At the end of the week, the household mails the diaries back to Nielsen.

The sweeps periods are for your local television stations; they are not for the networks. However, to please local stations, the networks engage in what is called "stunt programming," in which specials are shown in place of regular shows that are doing poorly in the overnight ratings. You'll also notice that your local television news features a slew of "special reports" during sweeps months.

Nielsen households are reimbursed for their time. Sweeps households got $1 per television a few years ago. I don't know what People Meter households get.

Answer 2

They use the Neilson Ratings. They're a company that installs devices in the homes of "average American viewers" and monitors their TV watching habits.

Answer 3

lots of the scores equipment nonetheless includes the ending touch by ability of visitors of scores diaries, wherein a viewer documents his or her viewing behavior, frequently for a week, in replace for being stepped forward a nominal fee.