An easy suggestion, but would it do anything?

[Onlooker]

Would it make sense for all of us to tune our tv onto the same program (something other than Path to 9/11), to try to reduce ABC's share of the tv audience? I know someone said that only Nielsen homes matter, but others have claimed that cable systems automatically keep tabs on what people watch. Any thoughts?

[BadgerKid]

1. IIRC Tivo tracks viewing

but whether that info would make any impact to ABC, I don't know :shrug:

[tpsbmam]

2. Yup, it might make a difference if......

people did more than that. If people record an opposing program, that will get recorded and lumped with group data -- all of that goes to advertisers. In addition, if people delete their ABC seasons passes (which TIVO tracks) and don't record shows on ABC, that will be reflected (if enough do it) in the data that, again, gets sent to advertisers.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. That's Just Simply Untrue.

Tivo sells some data to advertisers but that is only used by the advertisers for overall marketing strategy such as whether people are fast forwarding through their commercials or watching them, and if so how to grab their impact better.

As far as industry standard ratings go, and the ONLY thing used to set advertising rates for different shows, Nielsen households are the ONLY thing that is reflected and therefore are the ONLY ones who can make an impact.

People keep propagating this misconceived notion that if you have a Tivo or DVR you are somehow affecting ratings or can have an impact on advertising rates. But that whole concept is just completely false.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. It Is A Fact. Unless You Are A Nielsen Household You Don't Have An Impact

to the real ratings numbers that affect advertising rates. Others have claimed otherwise but they are quite simply wrong. Dead wrong in fact.

So having that said, no, tuning your tv to other channels doesn't matter at all unless you are a Nielsen household, sorry.