how can the TV stations count how many people watch their show?

Question

How can the TV stations count how many people watch their show or shows? and what if someone just flicks onto the channel and flicks to another?
Please help i'm eager to find out thnx

Answer 1

they usually use the Neilsen Rating System. they place these boxes in select, yet random and many, homes that monitor what is being watched and whatnot.



i think they are working on a new systems - like trying to figure out how to incorporate the dish/satellite recording systems into it and all. i find it to be very inaccurate, b/c when you have a box in your home and people are watching what you watch, i think people tend to not really watch what they want to, but watch what they think they should be watching - if that makes sense.



you can read up on it in the following links, hope that helps :)

Answer 2

The TV stations don't. The Nielsen group does, however. They send out surveys where a family writes down the things they watch on TV, and they send it back. A few other people have a cable box-like device that records what they watch and sends the data to Nielsen.

Answer 3

the Neilsens honey.



They do more than just TV, but they're known mostly for net ratings polls and entertainment associated things. I love the Neilsens.



♥



*edit* arrit is right (somewhat). Yes some homes do have the boxes; but the Neilsens also do Net Ratings Surveys online. What you watch, what channels, what type of show etc etc etc. They have pannels of people that take these surveys as collected data. Online is more wide based as per demographic.

There are other companies that do the same and similar, and occasionally the pannel is in person. I did one for a pilot years back. I also participate in online surveys for a wide range of things. I like doing that. As i said, the Neilsens handle more than just TV, but that's what they're known for.

♥♥

Answer 4

They hire pollers to call some given number of people in various parts of the country and ask what show they are watching. That random sample is projected to make an estimate of the total number of viewers, based on the population of the various areas.



Not at all accurate, I would say.

Answer 5

hi



During the show they should make telephone lines available for those watching the show to text freely their views and comments about the show.( if you make texting free so many people with text)



with that they can easily identify or count the number of people watching the show.



All the best!!!



[e-mail]

...Kwasi Asante

Answer 6

they post the question:

how many people watched _______?

on Y answers!!