I'm a Nielsen Family® !

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,821
33,843
136
I just got postcard informing me that I should expect a phone call explaining of this "exciting opportunity". It goes on to say that "It is very important that your household is included in our survey." There will be "no cost to you." :rolleyes:

I'm somewhat tempted to answer the call.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Do they pay for your cable bill or provide any other benefits whatsoever?

Or is it just "By the way, we want to start spying on your home, but don't worry, we won't charge you for the privilege".
 

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,481
2,418
136
tumblr_lcmjxaXYTu1qbpgppo1_500.gif


:biggrin:
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
You think that's cool? We just got invited to be one of the first households to get push button dialing. Can't wait.
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
I just got postcard informing me that I should expect a phone call explaining of this "exciting opportunity". It goes on to say that "It is very important that your household is included in our survey." There will be "no cost to you."

I'm somewhat tempted to answer the call.
So where are you going to spend the Dollar that they send you?
 

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
They gave me $30 for keeping a log for week of what I watched on TV. It was easy since the TV I have isn't hooked up and we never, ever watch anything. :)
 

bradley

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2000
3,671
2
81
Around eight years ago, I was invited to be a Nielsen family through a mailing, which also included 3 newly minted dollar bills. I spent the money and put the rest in the trash. Two years later, same thing.... spent the money, the rest in the trash.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
I received one as well. It was just to fill out a survey, which is also available online. It took five minutes.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Around eight years ago, I was invited to be a Nielsen family through a mailing, which also included 3 newly minted dollar bills. I spent the money and put the rest in the trash. Two years later, same thing.... spent the money, the rest in the trash.
Wiki says that their revenue in 2013 was $5.7 billion, with $0.74B net income.


Go back and push for more than $3. ^_^
 

balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
7,131
3,612
136
The last two years they have sent me $2 in a large envelope with a questionnaire. Since I don't own cable I kept the money and trashed the paperwork. You would think they would learn after not participating last year.
 

lamedude

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2011
1,230
68
91
Cable ratings make sense after reading this thread. The smart people take the $ and run so the only the what the idiots watch is accounted for.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
I wonder if they account for modern tv watching habits (Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, bittorrent, etc.)
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
4,004
1,506
136
i was a nielson viewer a couple of years back. if you dont have major electricity rates or are paranoid about privacy, take the option.

money-wise:
5 for the postcard reply
20 for interview
2 year term, @ ~$20/month with some signing bonus(dont remember how much maybe 120 - 200$?).
if they break any of your tvs they will pay to replace.
they install crappy cheap pc's to collect the data and send it back to the servers. the equipment in the tv monitors the audio and uses it to id the show. if they are on the same tech, you log into a small box on each tv when you watch.(they had like 3 pc boxes for 2 tvs and the 24/7 spike in electricty use negated some of the money reward)
semi annual interviews to update household stats.

at the tail end of it they offered a pc app to monitor your web watching.


if you want to affect what shows are made, be a responsible viewer. if you really want a show to survive, invite a bunch of teens and college students over to your house and have them in the room when the show is on. and buy pet food. they are really interested in people who buy pet food and wine.