Here you go, people. How TV Works:
NEILSEN Media Research
http://www.nielsenmedia.com/

This is how the advertisers find out roughly how many eyeballs are glued to what shows.
The advertisers then decided what shows they want to sell their ads to. Or not.
Check out the FAQ section.

Peace.

You would hit a Neilsen with glasses?

Umm...Could I have the sandwich?

Look there's Nielsen over there eating a peanut butter sandwich! Kick his butt and smash his glasses!

Ok, I have not done the research on the Neilson boxes and how they work, so yell politely if I'm wrong : ) But my understanding was that you couldn't have a Neilson box if you had Cable or a satelite system. I guess the people who opt to have neither are easily amused by small shiny objects. Thus the success of things like The Swan and American Idol. Way to spread the message that physical beauty is all that matters, even in music. Sorry, I don't think the term "Idol" should be used so lightly. Idols should be worthy of respect and reverence. Decent appearence and voice aren't enough.
I once asked someone that I respected if they had heard of my favourite band, "Marillion", and their response was that they "didn't like them so much because you had to think too much to understand what they were talking about." I discarded all respect I had held for them at that point. "I can not abide useless people." I think fans of shows like Firefly tend to require a little more substance from their entertainment. Sure I'll enjoy a little mindless fun occassionally, but I prefer to have even my entertainment be both moving and thought provoking. If more Neilson box users liked shows that engaged their cerebral functions, then shows like Firefly, Angel, Wonderfalls, Brimstone, or even John Doe, would last longer.
Well that's just my opinion.

Who the hell is Neilson and why does he get to decide!

(Yes I know what Neilsons are.) Where can I get a box they are obviously skewed against scifi shows. Which is strange considering how big the outcry is every time one is canceled vs. when a reality TV is canceled.
By the way has anyone seen the new F*X lineup tottal reality. All of which looks incredibly bad. Stupid freakin Neilson.

Stupid Nielsens.