T.V. Ratings?

Question

How do t.v. stations determine ratings--like how many people would watch a show in an evening?

Answer 1

TV stations pay to have their viewing monitored by Nielsen Media Research.

Nielsen builds a statistical sample of viewers in each market, and recruits those people to either have a set-top box installed in their home that monitors viewing or to keep a written diary of what they are viewing.

In larger cities/markets, there are ratings that come out the next day for shows the night before. They are called "overnights."

And there are four ratings periods a year -- in February, May, July (we're in that one now) and November -- when ratings are collected everywhere and compiled. The ratings periods are commonly called "sweeps." And the ratings compiled in sweeps are called "books."

Nielsen has a lot more information on how they produce the ratings here:

http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.3437240b94cacebc3a81e810d8a062a0/?vgnextoid=130547f8b5264010VgnVCM100000880a260aRCRD

Answer 2

there many secrect viewers out there that have a tracking device hooked to their TV if they stay tuned for over fifty percent of the show they press a button saying they watched the show.
It is called the Nelson Rating system it does not track if they liked the show.

Answer 3

I wouldn't be surpised that those using cable TV don't have their viewing habits monitored through the cable boxes. that could be a source for them. Then there's the Neilsen ratings which provides some idea of what the public is viewing.