TV Viewer Ratings
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
September 27, 2009 12:45pm CST
We all know thatviewer ratings largely determine which TV shows succeed and which ones end up getting the ax. This begs the question of how do these ratings figure into the fact that most TV programs are increasingly available to watch via the Internet? What brought this question to mind was the fact that I just learned the other day that two of my favorite shows are now on directly opposite each other. In the past I might have been devastated by this, but I have taken it in stride due to the fact that I can watch one during the regular viewing time and simply watch the other when I get the chance on the Internet. Have you had a similar experience with any of your favorite shows this season? I don't have Tivo or anything like that.
3 people like this
6 responses
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
28 Sep 09
I think TV show ratings are done via survey. There are certain company dedicated for this because network producers are willing to pay for it. I don't know if the survey includes the ratings in the internet. I think TV ratings and internet ratings are determined separately. Dang! I'm confused anyway this is a very interesting discussion with a very interesting question. It made me think and left me confused 
. I sure hope you get your answers:)
. I sure hope you get your answers:)
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I have known about the Neilson ratings for many, many years, hexeduser, but I am now in my sixties and have never been given one of those little boxes.
@Laurie1986 (384)
• United States
29 Sep 09
Yeah, the company is Neilsen, and they put ratings "boxes" on people's TVs to record what they watch and they have the people keep a journal. They try to span different demographics as much as they can, but I always kind of doubted the accuracy as well.
Internet...I don't know. I mean it's easy to record how many hits you get, but not the demographics, so maybe that's done by mail-in survey, because that's how they do radio. I don't know if Neilsen handles that, though.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
27 Sep 09
I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have TIVO either. However I check when two of my shows are on at the same time which one I can see on the internet. If both can be seen then I just pick one that seems alot more interesting. Its just becomes annoying when neither can be seen on the internet.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Sep 09
If you have an account with TV.Com, lelin, they have a wide variety of shows that can be viewed on the site. Anyway, I'm thinking that if past practices still hold true it will not be long before they start juggling the programs around in order to increase viewership.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Oct 09
I don't have the download capacity to watch shows on my computer. There is more than enough for me to watch on TV and if two favourite shows coincide, I just have to miss one. I watch TV when I'm on the computer anyway...there really are not enough hours in the day
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Oct 09
I must confess , all my fgavorite shows are on cable. In fact one is on HBO and the other is o Showtime. they havn't come back yet . but since they are on cable I get to watch them almost anytime. It has been a long time since I had a conflict between shows. I have both a VCR and a DVr so I just tape one chow and watch the other. It is going to be fun to see how the ratings are counted. Remember not everyone got those converter boxes so there are some who watch their shows online.
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Sep 09
I think it has a great deal to do with capitalism. It is not just the television people making money anymore, it is the channel sites on the internet. I think everyone has a hand in it now a days. It all used to be so well governed my the stations and their ratings. That just isn't so anymore.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Sep 09
It's like that old saying, celticeagle, Follow the money!I only saw the underlined words yesterday when I signed in using IE7. Most of the time I'm using Firefox with Adblock Plus.
I only saw the underlined words yesterday when I signed in using IE7. Most of the time I'm using Firefox with Adblock Plus.1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Sep 09
Well, what do you know?! I finally see the underlined words several have brought to my attentions. WOW!
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Oct 09
Well, i have had the same applications all the time and just started seeing them afew days ago. Maybe something updated or something. Not sure.
@EnglishTeaDuck (862)
• United States
28 Sep 09
Thats interesting, I'd never thought of it, but you're right, it used to totally depend on ratings whether a show was axed or not. I wonder how it does work out now? You'd hope that a great show would survive anyway, but then what makes a great show is quite subjective.
Interesting discussion question.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Sep 09
I've decided to do some more research into the matter, English, because I'm really curious who decides which shows are good enough to remain on the air.
