how do the tv and radio shows know how many people are tuning in?? they always seem to have a figure for it but how do they get it?
2007-02-28 23:05:07 · 8 answers · asked by Abi 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
They have been monitoring you for years.
Now with Sky and Virgin, they know exactly what you are watching, how long, etc.
2007-02-28 23:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by shirju_rich 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radios have transmitters that relay tuning information. As for television (at least in the US), Nielson Media Research selects willing TV-viewing housholds to represent the population. They say it's completely random. What they do is give the participants a "box' that is connected to both the family's TVs and phone line. The box sends information to Nielson letting them know what each TV is tuned to. During the TV week, the family keeps a log of their viewing choices, who was watching, for how long and why. Nielson also follows up with these families through telephone interviews. Nielson then releases preliminary results to the 4 major television networks so they can review their ratings and compare them to the other networks. They generally use the ratings information to set advertising prices and to determine time slots for particular programs. Nielson also releases their data weekly to media outlets and other research firms.
2007-02-28 23:20:04 · answer #2 · answered by saralicious 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
BARB are the organisation that get quoted a lot. They gather a cross-section of viewers and install a meter to their TV, thus monitoring a sample of the population at any one time.
There is more information on their website in the sources below:
2007-02-28 23:10:24 · answer #3 · answered by scareyd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All TV's made after 1989 have a small radio transmitter that sends details of what you are watching to a central computer in the London. The statisitcs are then passed on the the respective TV companys.
2007-02-28 23:09:57 · answer #4 · answered by Doodie 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
they have signal checkers which know how many houses are tuning in.... but not the amount of people in the house viewing/listening......
just as sky digital can tell you what channel you are watching and the tv licence people use it too......
2007-03-01 03:30:04 · answer #5 · answered by paulrb8 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can operate a two way cctv
from the studio underneath the big transmittors
and monitor the survey cams thats built into new tv sets behind the screen
this allows them to listen and watch you at home
watching your tv and can digitaly tell what side its on(channel)
Clever..eh?
also they are specially trained
to just take no notice
if you happen to be starkers
(naked)while sitting there watching tv.
2007-02-28 23:36:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
usally by putting a device in 1000 peoples homes and watches what they watch, and gather the info that way
2007-03-01 05:25:35 · answer #7 · answered by dartheboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have obviously not been accosted by pollsters in shopping areas.
2007-02-28 23:09:00 · answer #8 · answered by MANCHESTER UK 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋