How does the media know how many people tuned into a certain show?

Answer

Millions of households are chosen at random to receive a "Neilson Box" hence "Neilson ratings". Its like a cable box that monitors what shows you watch and how long you watch them. Every night the Neilson Company records the data and sends it to the television networks. I dont know the website, but if you google Neilson ratings, you can apply to get a box. However there is a test. You have to watch television for at least 4 hours per day to qualify.

Answer

Well, when one googles, google can't create what doesn't exit. "Neilson Ratings" doesn't bring up the neilson ratings. And the above answer says millions of households are used by neilson. I've never met a neilson family in my life nor has anyone I've asked, met one. (I'm in my sixth decade.) Once I met one person who did a neilson survey of some sort for one WEEK. Neilson is the emperor in "the emporer has no clothing". TV Executives and Advertisers are the populace of that story.

• That's because it's not the "Neilson" Ratings, it's the "Nielsen" Ratings. Also, you only know maybe 500 people in a small area in a very big country of 302 million people.

Answer

The Nielsen ratings do exist. Their URL is to the left.

Answer

I was a Nielsen family for 2 years, 1999-2001. Part of the reason many people think they've never met a Nielsen family is that the Nielsen Media Research company is very clear on the fact that if they discover you've told people you're participating, your meter will be removed or your diary entries will be scrapped. There are about 1.5 million people each year who fill out a written diary of their tv watching habits for a short period of time (7 days, or 8 if you have a DVR), and tens of thousands of the better known metered families, which is longer-term and involves equipment attached to the tvs in your home to automatically record what you watch. If you are a metered Nielsen family, you receive a (very small) monetary compensation (at the time I did it, it was a couple dollars per tv, vcr, and dvd player. Less than $10 per month). You cannot volunteer or sign up to be a Nielsen family, it is entirely random. The only way to become a Nielsen family is to be lucky enough to receive one of their postcards or phone calls inviting you to participate. There is no requirement for the amount of time you must spend watching tv, and they monitor all household sizes, types, and backgrounds.

First answer by ID3506836537. Last edit by Onesweettart. Contributor trust: 19 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 112 [recommend question]