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Why The Way TV Ratings Are Measured Needs To Be Upgraded For The Digital Age

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The way TV ratings are measured in the USA, as well as many other countries, is decades old, and based a lot on broad estimation and guesswork. This leads to all kinds of problems where TV networks schedule shows based on this data, or even cancel shows which actually have large fan bases, because the ratings suggest otherwise. Here we take a look at how ratings fan base are currently measured, and why this no longer fits with the way many Americans choose to get their TV fixes:

What Are Neilsen Ratings, and How Do They Work?

Neilsen ratings are the main means of measuring how many people are watching a given station at a given time and hence the ratings for a given television broadcast. Invented and managed by the company Nielsen, the system is based on boxes installed in a proportion of homes that monitor what is being watched.

From this data, trends are analysed and possible viewing figures are extrapolated. This means that when you see that a given sporting event, or occasion like the Royal Wedding, gains record breaking viewing figures, this may not actually mean there really were more people watching this broadcast than any other broadcast in history, or in a given year. It is simply thought that there were, based on how many people with Nielsen boxes watched it.

Neilsen ratings also only take into consideration live broadcasts, so if somebody records something with a service like TiVo, or watches it with their TV provider’s on demand service either through their TV box or online, it will not be counted.

Why This Simply Doesn’t Work Anymore

The average TV installation service includes all kinds of convenient ways people can watch their favourite shows, as and when they like. This means that a lot of people don’t watch TV at its scheduled times any more. While some extremely popular shows may be an ‘appointment to view’ for some people, and things like the news and sports will always be watched live, when it comes to the average sitcom or drama, the live audience when it is first broadcast gives no real indication of how many people will have ended up watching that show that week.

Additionally, some people like to save up shows so they can watch a whole season in a marathon, meaning they don’t have to wait to get the full story. This means that the number of people who end up watching the show as a DVR recording or on demand could continue to rise for a while after the show has finished airing.

With people’s viewing habits and options having changed so much from their pre-digital, pre-internet state, this antiquated means of judging the popularity of a TV product produces figures that can’t be relied upon. The industry will soon need to come up with a new way to count real viewing figures, or to combine analysis from Nielsen with other forms of data, for example how much certain shows are being discussed on social media and blogs.

Featured images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/en/icon-diagram-bar-cartoon-graphics-37717/?rf=api_jitendraag

Today’s featured contributor, Kate Harris, is a private investigator. She also works as a security consultant at AAA Satellite, one of the leading manufacturers of business security equipment. In her spare time, she likes to write blogs about various types of security systems used in businesses.

The 5 Most Memorable As Seen on TV Products in the Last Decade

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As seen on TV products. We’ve all seen innumerable commercials for these products. Many of us have even purchased one or two of them now and then. Some of them are actually quite useful. Some of them… not so much.

Either way, there is one thing that can’t be argued: these As Seen on TV Products definitely make quite an impression. There are certain products that we’ve all heard of, and seen the commercials for. If any of these products come up in a conversation, everyone is sure to know exactly what you’re talking about. There are several As Seen on TV Products that we all remember, and that even have affected the way we do things.

Below are 5 of the most memorable As Seen on TV Products we’ve seen:

1. Snuggie

For this one, we don’t even need to mention that the majority of households now own at least one of these blankets with arms… even if they won’t admit it openly.

To discuss how memorable this product is, let’s just take a minute to talk about their commercials. None of us can forget the lady who throws her blanket off of her in annoyance when she can’t figure out how to answer the phone with her blanket on her. And need I mention their more recent commercials, where they have everyone dancing around in their snuggies? I’ll just say this: that is definitely unforgettable.

2. ShamWow


Oh, the ShamWow. What is there even to say about this product? We all remember all of the one liners in their commercials: “You’ll be saying wow every time you use this towel.” (Oh, so that’s where they got the name from!). “Made in Germany, you know the Germans always make the best stuff.” “You following me, camera guy?” “All I can say is, Sham WOW!”

Even though we’ve all made fun of the commercials, this is another product that we’ve all secretly wanted to try out.

3. Perfect Brownie Pan

No one can forget the first time they saw a commercial for the “Perfect Brownie Pan.” We all thought, “Why didn’t I think of this?? Every brownie gets to be a corner piece? Genius!” This simple pan changed the way we think about brownies.

4. Pillow Pets

This is one of those products that became an instant sensation the minute it came on the market. First it was the beanie baby, then the giga pet, and now it’s the pillow pet. Every child HAS to have one. Every parent has had their own experience where they’ve had to search from store to store for this one item because that is the ONLY thing that their child wants for their birthday. And you have to find the exact right animal. And every store is sold out. Because, guess what? Every other child in the world has also sent their parents on a crazed hunt for this must have item.

5. Justin Bieber Toothbrush

Anyone who has a preteen definitely can’t forget this product. That is because the moment our daughter saw the commercial for a toothbrush that sings Justin Beiber songs to you, she turned into a lunatic. She can’t live her life one more moment without this toothbrush. She will be the best child you’ve ever imagined, she will walk the dog, do her homework, and happily finish all of her chores, if you just purchase her this one item. She will never ask for anything again. The Justin Bieber toothbrush: a preteen’s dream, an adult’s worse nightmare.

Nicole is an author for StarReviews.com, where they review websites, software and services. Check out Star Reviews 2012.

photo by: akeg





Taping a Rizzoli & Isles Marathon

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It’s a rainy weekend and I’m staying indoors getting some things done around the house and catching up on a TV show that I’ve only just become interested in. Superchannel is having a Rizzoli & Isles Marathon this weekend and I’ve managed to DVR all of season 2 or at least by tomorrow I’ll have all of season two DVR’ed.

I didn’t watch the show at all last year or during it’s first season but I’ve been watching it today as I’ve been doing other work and I’m really enjoying it so you can be that I’m going to watch Season three when it starts next week.

I’m also using my DVR to tape three movies tonight. Yeah … I’m taping a lot of stuff. One of them is a scary movie, ones a comedy and the other I can’t remember quite what it is .. something about a cpa raleigh nc in vegas I think … I can’t remember. Hopefully I don’t get too busy and end up not watching all of these shows that I’m taping!

Do you really like watching award shows or not?

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Well it seems that it’s award season in Hollywood again. I’m not sure I like this time of year. Why … well … it tend to interrupt my favorite shows. Plus, I find award shows boring.

Yes I believe that Actors, writers, Producers, directors and so on should get praise and trophies for the work that they do … but I don’t believe that it necessarily has to be televised for all of us to see. I think the TV ratings for most award shows proves that interest in these types of shows has been going down year after year.

Do you enjoy watching shows like the SAG awards or the Golden Globes?

What a great deal on an LED TV

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It looks like my sister is taking advantage of some of the great January sales that are going on. I was talking with her the other day and she told me about seeing this deal at a local store for a 3D 50″ LED TV with a Home Theater, a TV stand and a Harmony remote control. I can’t remember if the TV she was talking about was a Samsung or one of the LED lg tvs but it sounded like a great deal to me. It was something like $1500.00 for the whole package.

As it turns out she went to the store just the other day and ended up buying an upgraded version of the TV that was in that package, but just a little smaller. I think she’s going to be really happy with her new TV. She has a slightly older model of TV right now so I’m sure she’ll be thrilled this Friday once the new TV and home theatre is delivered and installed.

I’ve got a nice Plasma TV but I know the LED’s are really nice. Someday .. when my Plasma stops working I’ll probably switch to an LED too. Do you have a nice flat screen TV at home?

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