2007-01-17 19:14:47 · 8 answers · asked by Wico 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
I think they have a number of recievers in selected viewer homes. These act to give an idea of the percentage of people in the country who are watching particular programmes. I think this is the case but I'm not sure.
2007-01-17 19:18:55 · answer #1 · answered by Joseph Manners 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's based on the Nielson ratings. I don't know exactly how they determine the ratings, but there are about 1000 (maybe it's more, but I don't know for sure) families around the country that have set top boxes that record statistics about everything they watch. And then virtually everything about the business of television is based on the statistics generated by that small number of viewers - everything from advertising rates to what shows live or die. I will add that it's possible this info is out of date because I would half expect the saturation of cable tv boxes would allow for the collection of much more accurate data based on real numbers rather than statistically derived numbers, but I don't know. For what it's worth, there is a similar system for radio call Arbitron. In the case of Arbitron, they actually mail out journals to a number of people (I assume randomly selected) and over a week's time you fill in what stations you're listening to at what time of the day. I actually did this about 5 years ago.
2016-05-24 02:39:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
TV channels take services of agencies in determining the viewer ratings. The agencies have different methods to do this . One commonly used method is to install a kind of device in selected area's selected viewer's homes which records the viewers television habits.
2007-01-17 19:20:24 · answer #3 · answered by ajay p 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A little elf runs around looking through blinds or cracks in curtains and has a little book and jots a picture down of what we are watching (he draws cause he cant spell). then takes it home and adds it all up. thats why people think big brother has gud ratings. it wasnt big brother it was a farm program. the elf couldnt tell the difference between jade guddy and a pig..
hope ive helped
2007-01-17 21:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by jam master 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thousands of people across the country keep a diary of the programmes they watch and how long for. This is taken as an average for the country as a whole
2007-01-17 19:33:28 · answer #5 · answered by chillipope 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the use of mirrors, magents and pulleys
2007-01-17 19:38:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very good question I've often wondered this myself.
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2007-01-17 20:49:49 · answer #7 · answered by wilster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simple word is "sampling".
2007-01-17 19:43:46 · answer #8 · answered by Fish Master 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋