How do they know?

[4X4]

I know this was once a topic, but I can't find it... So keep fataman in the vault for now.

So the woman is watching a show about being a Hilton. Yes, a Hilton. She insists that she can secretly watch it, and not encourage more garbage flooding the airwaves. I'm telling her that by watching it, you ARE encouraging more garbage like this.

How do they know you are watching? Someone once answered this question on this site, but I forgot.

[Faid1]

Simply, a company called Nielsen in the US gives special boxes to random samplings of people. The box monitors what is displayed on the TV, and reports back to the company. Alternatively, people write in "TV Diaries" documenting what they've watched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_Ratings
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/question433.htm

[4X4]

Really? I thought the pretty much knew how many people were watching each show. Not necessarily who, but how many.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by 4X4@Jun 28 2005, 07:40 PM
Really? I thought the pretty much knew how many people were watching each show. Not necessarily who, but how many.

I'm suspicious of digital cable boxes...they're designed for 2-way communication, so who's to say that they haven't been designed to report back what channel they're on, eh?

[Shawnski]

For the most part on standard cable, if I recall correctly, some people have boxes hooked up to their TV's that record what they are watching. This info is measured, and results in the "Nielson ratings". Has been going on for years. "Sweeps week" is huge for this type of measurement as it helps dictate who or who not is being viewed, thus potentially changing the next season's schedule.

Other measurements are water usage. Flushing toilets at the same time can actually cause a significant drop in reserviors. This method has been translated into "ratings" for significant programs like the Superbowl, World Series, etc to help verify other methods.

In the digital era, however, if you have digital cable I would expect them to be monitoring what you are watching, as it would be significantly easier to send a return feed of info back through the line from your cable box.

So let your woman watch whatever crap she wants (if you are on standard cable).... but she ain't allowed to flush!!

Edit.. FYI, the three responses above came in while I was typing this!!

[4X4]

Well, I agree, sort of. I don't have a cable box (just regular cable for me), but if I did, I wouldn't care too much if shaw was keeping track of what I (or everyone) was watching. I'd care more about whether they were targetting me for certain advertising based on what I watch. For some reason that p*sses me off on the internet.

Edit... uh, nothing

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'd be concerned if Shaw knew how much porn i watched.

[4X4]

Originally posted by Winsor_Pilates@Jun 28 2005, 07:49 PM
I'd be concerned if Shaw knew how much porn i watched.

They (the computer techs) probably watch more porn than you, so relax.

[4X4]

Holy crap. Water usage?

As for the other two, that sucks. Now I've got to concoct some diabolical scheme to deter the woman from watching crappy shows. Like... Be A Hilton, or Dr. Phil, or Will & Grace, or American Idol.

[Mike Oxlong]

I know one way they measure it is similar to what they do for Radio. It is a diary that a select group of people receive and they fill it out for a certain period of time. You are required to fill out in detail every program you watch all the time for every TV in the house.

I was contacted by a marketing group recently and they are sending me a diary. I should get it this week actually. I can finally do my part to get shinguard like the Hilton's off of TV.

I would be surprised if someone else on this board hasn't filled one of these out for either TV or radio at somepoint.

[albertGQ]

Originally posted by Mike Oxlong@Jun 29 2005, 12:07 PM
I know one way they measure it is similar to what they do for Radio. It is a diary that a select group of people receive and they fill it out for a certain period of time. You are required to fill out in detail every program you watch all the time for every TV in the house.

I was contacted by a marketing group recently and they are sending me a diary. I should get it this week actually. I can finally do my part to get shinguard like the Hilton's off of TV.

I would be surprised if someone else on this board hasn't filled one of these out for either TV or radio at somepoint.

Do you get paid to participate in this diary?

[Flames89]

Originally posted by Mike Oxlong@Jun 29 2005, 02:07 PM
I know one way they measure it is similar to what they do for Radio. It is a diary that a select group of people receive and they fill it out for a certain period of time. You are required to fill out in detail every program you watch all the time for every TV in the house.

I was contacted by a marketing group recently and they are sending me a diary. I should get it this week actually. I can finally do my part to get shinguard like the Hilton's off of TV.

I would be surprised if someone else on this board hasn't filled one of these out for either TV or radio at somepoint.

That would be exhausting!!



Dear Diary:

Today I watched:

9:00 am - Breakfast show
9:01 am - Discovery
9:05 am - Aerobics
9:07.01 am - Whatever that was on channel 32
9:07.02 am - Whatever that was on channel 33
9:07.03 am - Whatever that was on channel 34
9:07.04 am - Whatever that was on channel 35
9:07.05 am - Whatever that was on channel 36
9:07.06 am - Whatever that was on channel 37
9:07.07 am - Whatever that was on channel 38
9:07.08 am - Whatever that was on channel 39
9:07.09 am - Whatever that was on channel 40
9:07.10 am - Rocket Robinhood
9:14 am - back to the Aerobics (I think the high-energy chick in the blue is hott)
9:15 am - back to Rocket Robinhood
....

[Mike Oxlong]

Originally posted by albertGQ+Jun 29 2005, 07:01 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (albertGQ @ Jun 29 2005, 07:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Mike Oxlong@Jun 29 2005, 12:07 PM
I know one way they measure it is similar to what they do for Radio. It is a diary that a select group of people receive and they fill it out for a certain period of time. You are required to fill out in detail every program you watch all the time for every TV in the house.

I was contacted by a marketing group recently and they are sending me a diary. I should get it this week actually. I can finally do my part to get shinguard like the Hilton's off of TV.

I would be surprised if someone else on this board hasn't filled one of these out for either TV or radio at somepoint.

Do you get paid to participate in this diary? [/b][/quote]
Nope. No pay for it. I just get to influence what is and isn't going to be on TV.

The crappy thing is I get all the terrible pilot rograms on in the summer. I wish I got it in the fall when I could try to save show like Arrested Development and try to get rid of theat bachleor/bachleorette crap.

And Flames89...you are right about the channel surfing...I never even thought about that. I am bad for flipping channels, my diary will be full.

[4X4]

HAHAHA... Rocket Robinhood. I used to love that show. The other day I caught half an episode of the Jetsons. It was the one with the viney plant that liked George's barbershop quartet...



But really, they want you to record channel surfing? With a pen & paper? In 2005?
You guys are giving me NO ammunition. If I tell the woman that this is how they do it, I'm destined for a lifetime of Be a Hilton, and sick variations thereof.

Maybe its time to get single.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally posted by 4X4@Jun 29 2005, 02:06 PM
HAHAHA... Rocket Robinhood. I used to love that show. The other day I caught half an episode of the Jetsons. It was the one with the viney plant that liked George's barbershop quartet...



But really, they want you to record channel surfing? With a pen & paper? In 2005?
You guys are giving me NO ammunition. If I tell the woman that this is how they do it, I'm destined for a lifetime of Be a Hilton, and sick variations thereof.

Maybe its time to get single.

Maid Marion was hot with a jetpack in space!