how are tv ratings calculated, and does it matter if you use a dvr cable box to record two shows at once?

Question

I was wondering how ratings are calculated. My favorite tv show veronica mars' ratings have been down lately, and I've been watching it every week, but I also use my dvr cable box to record house which is on at the same time does that affect the ratings of a show If I watch one and record another?

and If I have more than one tv in the house on the same channel does it only count as one viewer?

thanks.

Answer 1

I've actually been a participant in the Neilsen ratings. They send you a booklet for each TV in the house. You write in what shows you've watched each hour/day during the week and there's a section where you write in shows you've watched from tape/DVR. So the ratings 'should' be accurate. The problem as I see it is, are the participants truly representative of the total TV-watching population? My guess is that it's a crap shoot! BTW, I agree Veronica Mars is a really good show.

Answer 2

Unless you are part of A Nielsen family then it doesn't matter how much you watch a program on TV it will not affect the ratings. A certain number of families are selected by the Nielsen research bureau and they have a special box that record what they watch and when they watch it. These are the only figures that are counted in TV ratings. It's a sample of the viewing public, not all of them.

Answer 3

Ratings are determined by a random sampling of viewers who are given special devices that hook into their tv and report their viewing habits. This small sampling is then extrapolated out to the whole viewing population. No data is collected from the average viewer.

Answer 4

there is a small segment of the population that have agreed to have their viewing habits monitored. they receive a small amount of $ for doing so (around $5 a month about 8 years ago- i don't know how much now). no one keeps track of other people- the segment is supposed to represent most viewers.

Answer 5

There was an anti-pirating chip in VHS machines years ago, but I don't have any problem dubbing DVD to DVD on my 2 DVD Recorders... so I don't know what he's talking about.