Ratings...how do they work?

[Kev]

How do they do TV and Radio ratings? How can they tell how many people are tuning in, I don't understand?

And even more confusing is how can they narrow it down into demographics?

Or is it just a bunch of made up BS?

 

[dullard]

For TV there are families selected that gather this data. A machine records what programs are watched. The family is supposed to type in the age and sex of everyone watching. If a large enough sample is taken, it acurately reflects the demographics as well as the most popular shows.

For radio, I don't know.

 

[Linflas]

From what I have been told the Arbitron radio ratings are done by the selected listeners keeping a hand written log or diary of what stations they listen to.

 

[mithrandir2001]

At first glance of the thread title, I thought somebody wanted to be #1. 😉

 

[DVeditor2k2]

<< From what I have been told the Arbitron radio ratings are done by the selected listeners keeping a hand written log or diary of what stations they listen to. >>



Exactly. A couple of years ago my family got ramdomly selected to keep diaries of what radio stations we listened to, when and for how long. We recieved lil diary books in the mail, and for a certian 7 day period we kept track of our radio listening, and then mailed the books back at the end of the 7 days.

DV

 

[veryape]

Yes, I've recieved five bucks about five times from Orbitron and never even did the ratings thing for them. Hey that's what they get for sending me a five dollar bill through the mail. If they want people to feel obligated they should only send checks, but no, they send cash. Stupid.