2007-07-31 05:32:45 · 8 answers · asked by jamie s 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television ➔ Comedy
A number of ways are used to arrive at viewing figures. One is the set top box which analyses viewing activity in a household. These are scattered across a communtiy in key demographics, giving the number-crunchers a broad base on which to estimate the total number of viewers across teh country. Anotehr method is by online surveys. Again a cross-section of people are chosen to take part, and they have to log on so many times a week to register what they have viewed or even listened to on the radio. On top of these methods, there are operators who go door-to-door as well as telephone surveys. As no one method is infallible, the results from all different surveys are put together to give an overall picture of viewing figures and habits.
2007-07-31 05:54:18 · answer #1 · answered by Norman W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its based on a statistical sample
the precise mechanism is kept fairly secret, but the audience monitoring organisations (RAJAR is one), often place a pice of equipment beside a TV so that they actuallyknow what is being watched, they also use viewer surveys
having carefully created the representative sample they then extrapolate the figures to give an average audience.
wonder what google would say?
there are some other crude techniques which can be sued to back up some of the assumptions (things like power surges, or increases in water demand) triggered by people putting on a kettle, nuking something in a microwave or flushing the loo when natural breaks appear in programs, either at the end of a program or an advert break.
2007-07-31 12:41:33 · answer #2 · answered by Mark J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the US the #1 television ratings service is the Neilsen Ratings. They send out a television diary to a family and everyone in the family and their guest are logged intoo the diary. They then write down what is on the TV by channel#, network, Show name, and record if it being watched and by how many people. This is maintained in 15 minute blocks. They also track by age and sex.
The statistics determined by the demographic profile attached to the diary are then generalized to the public using statistical analysis.
2007-07-31 15:03:20 · answer #3 · answered by US_DR_JD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a certain number of people who either have equipment that tracks their usage or they keep records of what they watch.
The mathematicians then use the figures from the relatively small sample group and extrapolate to estimate the entire nations viewing.
It works on very similar lines to market research and opinion polls.
2007-07-31 12:43:39 · answer #4 · answered by 203 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a read of this:
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-networks-know-how-many-people-are-watching-a-tv-program.htm
2007-07-31 12:42:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is so kind of device in our tv.... or they could use a satellite, thats in the sky, thats the only things i could think of.. Good Q...
2007-07-31 12:39:33 · answer #6 · answered by Alsee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats a good question. i used to always wonder the same thing... hmm
2007-07-31 12:36:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
^^me too..maybe there are special devices in our tvs that record what we watch.OMG LIKE SECRET SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS OR SOMETHING
2007-07-31 12:38:27 · answer #8 · answered by toastxcore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋