Is the Nielsen TV ratings sytem outmoded?

[XMan]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ar...ont-tivo-our-show.html

It seems silly to me that Nielsen's system can't accout for DVR usage. Do they not use the little books you fill out by hand anymore, or is it something different now? Are they able to monitor what cable and satellite users are watching by way of the boxes? What about OTA HD?

Jericho is a great show, but my wife would shoot me if we watched Jericho instead of American Idol (even though I hate watching Idol live - it's much better DVR'd).

I understand the whole idea that DVR/Tivo/Media Center usage is reducing commerical watching, but I find that I do still watch some commercials. Usually I watch movie trailers, or ones that just catch my for some reason. If I've seen the commercial sixteen times during the same one hour show, I absolutely fast forward through that junk . . .

 

[dr150]

I hear Nielsen is coming out with an updated system to account for Tivo/internet. They're under the gun at the moment.

The Jericho fiasco has prompted EVERY studio to reexamine the way television is watched.

This topic is very hot and should result in a better way to analyze viewers for advertisers.

 

[Kadarin]

If Nielsen doesn't take into account Tivo/DVR/Slingbox, or iTunes or other internet locations where you can download/watch shows, then it is very much outmoded.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: dr150
The Jericho fiasco has prompted EVERY studio to reexamine the way television is watched.

What do you mean by "fiasco"? Canceling the show and then, after public outcry, uncanceling it?

MotionMan

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: dr150
The Jericho fiasco has prompted EVERY studio to reexamine the way television is watched.

What do you mean by "fiasco"? Canceling the show and then, after public outcry, uncanceling it?

MotionMan

It was one of the big hits of the fall along with Heroes, but CBS is run by a bunch of idiots who decided to have a two month hiatus in the middle of the season, then start back up and compete directly against American Idol. Then they complained when ratings went down. Umm . . . hello?

 

[0roo0roo]

big hits? really?

 

[torpid]

Tivo supplies viewing information in the aggregate. I don't know whether these are accumulated with nielsen ratings or not, but they are there. So if it's not, we can rebuild it; we have the technology.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
big hits? really?

Considering fans sent in around 30,000lb of peanuts to CBS, it had a fan here and there...

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: torpid
Tivo supplies viewing information in the aggregate. I don't know whether these are accumulated with nielsen ratings or not, but they are there. So if it's not, we can rebuild it; we have the technology.

I think they may be, at least on a limited basis.

Neilsen has DVR boxes now I think. They were late to the party and they realize that now.