Neilsons & the Lowest Common Denominator by Knibblet

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Neilsons & the Lowest Common Denominator

POSTED BY: KNIBBLET
UPDATED: Monday, February 9, 2004 15:00
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VIEWED: 2086
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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:01 PM

We've had lots of discussions re. the Neilson system needing massive amounts of fixing and how networks cater to the Lowest Common Denominator.

Who are Neilson families? I've never met one. I've never met anyone who watches the shows that rate the highest in Neilson ratings. Who are these people? Where do they live?

As for the lowest common denominator. We'd love to stereotype them as your basic double-wide dwelling, malt liquor swilling, too tight leather vest sporting losers ... but someone must think their opinion is valuable enough to cancel or promote advertising revenue.

Again, who are these people? They're obviously the ones who are keeping those wacky Neilsons going.

I've never met anyone who watches Survivor. Hell, I worked for Target Corporation (Target being a MAJOR sponsor) and never knew anyone who gave a rat's patoote about that show.

All my buds watched "Firefly". Most of the people I know who watch any TV at all watch the same things I do. As for shows currently airing that's : Criminal Intent, Angel and SG1.

I work a demanding schedule (50 hours a week), take 3 hours of dance class, work 4 hours volunteer and then there's life and dogs. My TV has to be worth my time, intelligence and attention.

Who are these people who get to decide the fate of television shows? Will they have to answer at the end of time as to why they chose to melt their brains watching "American Idol"?

*sigh*

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:06 PM

STATIC

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:

I take 3 hours of dance class,

My TV has to be worth my time, intelligence and attention.

Why do I get the feeling you're really hot?

HEY! Gimme a break! I've been 'in country' for a YEAR!

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:17 PM

LTNOWIS

All of my idiotic friends watch "American Idol."

Also, I think lot's of "lowest common denomeinator" shows count on bored channel surfers instead of rabid fans. I remember looking at the TV section of my newspaper, and getting depressed that Firefly had half the viewers as "America's Funniest Home Videos." Hey, when I'm bored and I turn on the TV, chances are I'll watch something of the sort, even though I know it's a waste of my life, and evil too. Yep, I'm a real American.

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:20 PM

KNIBBLET

*insert best command voice here*
At ease, troop.

:) I think my husband would classify me as a solid 8. Of course, he has no choice (as I'd bonk him on the head if he thought differently) and he's lowered his standards after 18 years of marriage.

I danced at a party the other night and after the first performance, a woman came up and asked how old I am. I told her "42." She said, "You're 42? I'm turning 42 next week. You don't look 42!"

I said 'thank you, that's so kind of you', when what I wanted to say was, "Honey, I do look 42. I can't help it that you smoke like a salmon and drink like a fish and because of that, you look 62." Patron saint of diplomacy be thanked.

Now, since you're in 'the Stan, we'll have talk about some Cuchi jewelry. I'd love a necklace and bracelets and would pay a local woman a heck of a lot more than your average antique dealer who's out for profit. I'm only looking to fit out my RenFest dancer costume.

*shimmy shimmy*

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Why do I get the feeling you're really hot? HEY! Gimme a break! I've been 'in country' for a YEAR!

Originally posted by Knibblet:
I take 3 hours of dance class,

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:21 PM

SADLITTLEKING

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:
Who are Neilson families? I've never met one. I've never met anyone who watches the shows that rate the highest in Neilson ratings. Who are these people? Where do they live?

I always wondered the same thing. Who are these morons who won't watch the truly good programming? What makes them watch all of that Reality TV crap?

And I'm really starting to get pissed off with how Reality TV is taking over everything. ESPN is doing their own reality show, too. ESPN???!!! When will this Reality TV plague stop? And when will people wake up and realize that Reality TV isn't anywhere close to reality at all?

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:24 PM

STATIC

Knibblet:

I'll go shopping at the Bazzar next Saturday and see what I can come up with.

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

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Monday, February 9, 2004 12:29 PM

KNIBBLET

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
I'll go shopping at the Bazzar next Saturday and see what I can come up with.

Ohhhh my goodness. I'd be in your debt and you could count on prompt payment. One look at my ebay profile clears up that detail :)

More importantly, keep your head down, your ass in once piece and your eyeballs peeled.

My email addy is knibblet@hotmail.com Let me know your snail mail and we'll get you a CARE package out. How does homemade cookies and some muncharoos sound? I'm also good for a personal letter every day and photos of crazed sheltie dogs.

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Monday, February 9, 2004 1:12 PM

SERENITYGIRL

Well, actually before we were married, my husband's mom recieved stuff to be a Neilson family. It's just kinda of a random thing they send out and you can opt out if you want. If you go for it (which she did) for a week her and anyone who watched TV in the house would catalog in a book what, when, and for how long they watched. I think the system is a little more advanced now with a device you connect to your TV that monitors everything you watch.

Hopefully that sheds a little light on the topic.

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Monday, February 9, 2004 2:37 PM

KALATHENA

I don't think I've ever told you folks about this before. Not that I've been here forever or anything...

My husband and I were a "Neilson Family" for a month; sweeps month. A year ago last November. Yep. Right in the heart of the airing of Firefly. We did actually miss one episode during that time, but since we had a journal and not a box, we were able to LIE on our ratings counter. And yes, we did.

I completely agree about most of television being LCD programming. It's a shame, but that's what happens to any medium that is paid for by advertizing. Why do I listed to NPR on my way to work instead of the local crap-fest shock jock? Higher quality stuff. Why is NPR higher quality? The listeners pay for what you hear through donations on NPR and the local station runs on advertizing.

Until we are willing to come up with another way to fund the television industry, it *will* be the LCD programming that wins out every time.

--Kala

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Monday, February 9, 2004 3:00 PM

AURANI

A large part of the problem is that there are only 5000 Nielson households in the country.
When the system started (and technology was not as advanced as it has become), 5000 families probably provided a statistically accurate sample.

Unfortunately, the television landscape has changed since then, and Nielson hasn't kept up.

Look at the math.
When the system started, there were only 3 channels to choose from. If all 5000 households are watching, that's an average of 1666 households per channel.

Today, there are hundreds of channels.
To keep the math simple, assume there are 100 channels. That's an average of 50 households per channel. If you believe the reports that say there are in the neighborhood of 500 channels available, that's an average of 10 households per channel.

So in today's world, one household changing the channel has a huge affect (1 out of 50 or 1 out of 10) as opposed to the past (1 out of 1666).

Nielson really needs to measure more families. They also need to account the change in viewing habits created by TIVO and the systems like it. The techology exists to measure more homes, and to measure how people use TIVO to watch TV. (How do you think they know that Janet's exposure was the most TIVOed moment of the superbowl?)

With the decline in network viewership this last season, the networks have begun pressuring the Nielson system to account for these changes in the television climate. We just have to hope that they'll listen.

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