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Another random thought about TV ratings

Topics of general interest that just don't fit anywhere else.
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Deleted User 14896

Another random thought about TV ratings

Unread post by Deleted User 14896 »

How are cable TV ratings derived?
Is there something thru the cable companies that is keeping track on who's watching what channel?
And just to be curious, how do they ascertain over the air viewership?
Depending on the answer, I may have a follow up question regarding the cable ratings.
Thanks.
km1125
Posts: 3789
Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:09 pm

Re: Another random thought about TV ratings

Unread post by km1125 »

I can't speak to all the various methods, but with cable companies they most definitely track who's watching what channel and for how long. Most can even track more discretely to different people in the same household when they offer options to set your own 'favorites' or 'saved content'. Any streaming service can do the same.
Deleted User 14896

Re: Another random thought about TV ratings

Unread post by Deleted User 14896 »

km1125 wrote: Sat May 08, 2021 12:03 pm I can't speak to all the various methods, but with cable companies they most definitely track who's watching what channel and for how long. Most can even track more discretely to different people in the same household when they offer options to set your own 'favorites' or 'saved content'. Any streaming service can do the same.
Thanks for the information.
Do you think the cable companies share this info with rating collectors?
Let's say more folks with cable watched ABC instead of NBC one night.
How would the networks, and more importantly the advertisers know this?

I'm still going somewhere here depending on the answer I get.

Thanks.
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craig11152
Posts: 2201
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:15 am
Location: Ann Arbor

Re: Another random thought about TV ratings

Unread post by craig11152 »

I thought ratings were basically established by Nielsen tracking with people meters in an undisclosed number of households and maybe a small number of paper diaries.
I no longer directly engage Rate This :lol
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