Simple Question. Have You Done Anything To Affect Cable Ratings?

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

Are You Sure?

I hope this doesn't come off as baiting, it's not meant to. But I have seen many posts throughout different forums, this one included, that proclaim 'Yes! I refuse to watch such and such show anymore, tell everyone not to watch so the ratings go down!" or "yes! I watched so and so tonight, tell everyone to watch so the ratings go up!" etc....

I just wanted to inform those who may not know how ratings work. To keep it simple, if you don't have a ratings box attached to your tv, or don't have a survey to fill out for every single show you watch, well then the channels have no idea that you even exist, whether you, your family, your friends, watch or not.

I was thinking about this more the other day, ya know, with faux news ratings and all. How do we know they are even for real? I started thinking hey, I've never known ANYBODY that had a ratings box, and the people I've asked don't know anyone either.

So DU'rs, please respond. Do any of you have ratings boxes or surveys? Do any of you know anyone who does? Is there any way to find lists of people who do have them to try and help change their viewing habits?

Thanks!

[crispini]

1. there was someone posting in GD a few weeks ago

who had a nielsen box and was making lists of what to watch.

Countdown and Jon Stewart were high on that person's priority list, of course.

[Warpy]

2. yeah, I refuse to get cable, at all.

That hits them in the pocketbook, which is the only rating they care about.

[olefty]

25. How do radio ratings work?

Not only is network and cable "news" becoming more right wing every day but we are getting killed by extreme right wing radio. I've tried to figure out how radio ratings work and it seems to be a closely guarded secret. I have talked to people who work in radio and they say it is unlawful for them to discuss the radio rating system. WTF?

If someone can explain to us how the radio rating system works we can start to take the radio airwaves back from morons like limblow, hatetity and hate mongers like them.

Al Franken and Air America is a good start. Whatever happened to Al Gore's radio/TV network?

[Syncronaut Seven]

3. Unplugged my cable 16 years ago

Ended up with a much broader view of the world and an extra 10,157.38 in my pocket.

Good enough for me.

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

4. Holy Crap You're Right!

Good for you! :toast:

I saw your savings and thought wow, that's a lot, must be an exaggeration for sake of impact :)

Then I did the math, and you're dead on! I think I gotta cancel my cable!

[Clark2008]

6. Wish I could do that - but as there is absolutely NOTHING

on regular television I would dare let my child watch, we're stuck with it until we can get a la carte.

Yes, we could go WITHOUT television, I suppose, but it would be difficult on this single Mom's nerves. And, really, those educational channels are wonderful for children if you keep them away from the crap. My son knows what stations he can watch and asks before he deviates outside of Nick Jr., PBS Kids, the Discovery Channel and (sometimes) The Learning Channel. If he wants to watch Disney or a movie on one of the SuperStations, he has to get permission.

And, imagine, I do this WITHOUT electronic parental controls! I AM the Parental Control! ;)

(This is also why I blog so much. My son has to watch television in front of me. I get bored with some of the shows because they're repetitive in nature - good for learning - but boring after about thrice viewing them. So I blog, he watches his kids stuff.)

But I admire anyone that can dump all the television. I really can. I only watch Keith Olbermann, some movies and some Discovery Channel stuff.

[whistle]

5. I watch CBS news, the History channel and TCM....

...I never watch Fox News, I watch some CNN while I'm channel surfing and occasionally MSNBC. My total TV watch time may hit 2 hrs daily, but I think it's more like 60 to 90 minutes in an entire day, again mostly news and those at my meals times primarily. I spend far more time on the internet searching news sites and DU and following links that look interesting. I also work on the computer 6 to 8 hours every day, including weekends and do a substantial amount of research on the internet. Finally, I read, for my own interest, maybe an hour a day and I have a large collection of movies which I watch and exchange with friends.

Let see, how does that affect cable ratings in terms of my contribution? I have a cable modem, so that may make the cable company profits look better, but they are the only game in town.

[Clark2008]

I will watch Faux News ONLY if General Clark is on

and, even with his squeaky cleanness, I still feel like taking a shower after it. Faux is discusting. :puke:

I have to turn off MSNBC after Keith or I get sick from watching Dead Intern Country, too. :puke:

[jrthin]

7. I watch cable, but

NEVER cable news. Since the election, I'm done with that corrupt group.

[skids]

8. I took the paper survey a couple of years ago.

You have to opt-in when they send you snail mail. They were working on TiVo integration I had heard, which would make taking the surveys easier if you own a TiVo.

But this only lasted a week, you don't "stay on" as a source of ratings info.

[ebayfool]

12. My household 'did' the paper survey a few months back, too.

They sent a $1.00/per person 'gratuity' for each person for filling out the forms, LOL! Actually, I think the buck was sent @ 3 times, at different points in the survey. I know I work cheap, but I sure hope that's not a sign of days ahead!

We are also proliferate LTTE & email writers.

[skids]

18. Ah yes, the dollars...

...but they were such fresh, crisp, new-ink-smelling singles in perfect condition :-)

[ebayfool]

21. Yes, indeedy LOL - my boy was ON 'em! He loved the crispy, fresh feel ...

& smell. Like a kitten w/catnip - I think I'm raising a little capitalist!? (Naw, he just appreciates everything in his world w/a vigor & innocence I don't see much anymore. He doesn't 'get' often so he does know the value of a buck. He gets damn near as sensual w/good food - sight, smell, taste, even sound! Wish I good enjoy things as fully!)

[kster]

9. The advertisers

will let them know.I think its only a matter of time and they will start leaning our way with the coverage. Cable news has got to be hurting since the election. No more split second coverage for us,just to get us watching.We will not be fooled again.

[Verve]

10. I did something. I cancelled cable and got satellite instead.

Same price. I don't even know if I get FOX? (other than the local Fox that the Superbowl aired on). I've never even bothered to check. I have no desire to watch that horrible channel.

[flyarm]

14. well since ruppert murdock bought...

direct tv for your satellite..unless you have someone else..you are paying the fox owner for your satellite!! he sold the la dodgers and his newspaper in austrailia in order to buy direct tv..so he can spread his propaganda throughout the world!! filling stupid americans heads isn't good enough for him..he wants the worlds people dumbed down!

fly

[Verve]

19. I have Dish Network thankfully. Thanks for the info though. No Direct

T.V., no cable....our media options are starting to look like our government, full of repugs.

[davidgmills]

11. Unfortunately

Cable is the only decent way to access the net here. Costs me about $45 a month for the home verson and $90 for my small office 3 miles away.

Have no TV at the office.

Have cable TV at the house (another $45). My wife and daughter watch it often. I rarely see tv anymore. The super bowl was about the first time in a month.

Can't afford this.

But I did rid myself of a cell phone.

[marions ghost]

13. I'm a real nurd

--watch TV in restricted doses. C-Span, Comedy Central, Olbermann (since election), also sometimes Cooking, IFC, Link TV, Weather channel. Only the "reality based" channels (I include Comedy in that). Never channel surf. I used to watch PBS occasionally, but ditched them, along with Ted Koppel, NPR, and Time magazine. Only Internet news now.

I'm waiting for the TV channel that could really appeal to people like me--it doesnt exist. Something visually exciting, intellectually stimulating, diverse offerings...oh yeah, and attuned to Liberal values.

CNN Phobia--I had the disturbing experience of attending to someone seriously ill in the hospital during the lead-up to Shock and Awe. CNN was blasting in the room night and day. I'll never get over
that whole mind-blowing sledge hammer experience. Allergic to CNN now. CNN = all Iraq all the time. They also do a good job with exploding buildings, floating or hacked female bodies (selected ones), and Michael Jackson.

[USHealthC]

15. I couldn't live without cable or TV

we get 600 channels. there's always something i want to watch on some channel!

[Hugin]

16. Anyone with DirectTV...

or TiVO with the phone connection connected contributes to
ratings.

Those phone connections work two ways, youknow.

Ever wonder why they give you a break on monthy charges
when you keep them connected to a phone line.

[Verve]

20. Hey ! Maybe we should all get TiVo and refuse to watch Faux News.

Wouldn't that be great to influence Faux's ratings on a daily basis!

[Hugin]

23. You said it. ;) n/t

[garybeck]

24. I'm not sure that's true

I will inquire

[NationalEnquirer]

17. My sister was a Neilson family.

They had a box hooked to their TV which "knew" what channel they were watching and what time. Kinda creepy I guess if you think about it. She had no problem with it, since she was the type who watched alot of PBS. She was a homeschooler Democrat (yep, there are quite a few of those). So they watched all the educational type of stuff.
That was many years ago though, they have since moved to another house and got Satellite TV.

[garybeck]

22. the box he's talking about is not a "cable" box

it's a nielson ratings box. it is placed on a TV for a period of time to record which channels are watched when. You have to agree to have it installed. It works wether you have cable, satellite, or rabbit ears. my dad is in the TV industry, i've never heard of anyone who actually had one but he said he was asked once and had to decline because of connections to the industry. i'm sure there's a website on nielson somewhere that explains it in greater detail. my understanding is that the ratings are based on a combination of data from the boxes and other sources like random surveys. the overnight ratings come from the boxes and the monthly ratings include other means.