I got a letter in the mail today saying that I have been chosen to be part of the Nielsen Ratings. I have no idea how I got picked but this is way cool and my contribution to society. I was wondering if anyone here on DVD Talk have been or currently a Nielsen member?

These are some shows that I watch everyweek:
24
Alias
The Apprentice
Friends
Smallville
Scrubs

Aren't you supposed to stay anonymous when you are a Nielsen household?

Anyway, watch Angel. Maybe we can save it just yet.

Now that you blabbed, they'll find out and take away your tv viewing priviledges.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you probably just get the booklet to fill out, which doesn't actually contribute to the ratings.

I did it a few years ago. I got a call from them, was quickly assured it was not a telemarketing solicitation, and was asked if I wanted to participate, so I said sure, why not. They sent me a logbook to fill out (and four crisp $1 bills for my troubles).

I'm not too sure how much I helped. My TV viewing was noted as mostly newsmagazines (60 Minutes, 20/20, 48 Hours, Dateline etc.) I think I put down that the only four shows I watched regularly at the time was Letterman, The Simpsons, Futurama, and Freaks and Geeks. I also think I was asked to put down what I watched locally, for demographic results. Most of it was just local news and some syndicate re-runs, nothing special.

It still contributes to the ratings, just not the overnights.

As for the diaries, I've filled out more over the years than I care to admit, and I get a blister every damn time.

das

Quote:

Originally posted by Eplicon
I think I put down that the only four shows I watched regularly at the time was Letterman, The Simpsons, Futurama, and Freaks and Geeks.

Futurama? Cancelled. Freaks And Geeks? Cancelled.

Great job!

Keep fighting the good fight!

i've been for years

Please please please watch "Arrested Development."

Or at least pretend you do.

I bet it'll get picked up. But you really should at least pretend you watch Angel. We need to get as many TV movies out of the WB as possible.

I used to know someone that had one of the boxes and he started to turn on PBS a lot just to look 'smarter'.

I also agree that you should watch Arrested Development and Angel.

QuikSilver...just promise me - no matter how much pressure you get from others in this forum - that you WON'T watch ENTERPRISE!

Waaaay back when I was in grade school, my parents were picked for a week. But, haven't had the good fortune since.

Smallville is part of the list, that's practically a negative vote towards Enterprise right there.

My wife used to get these all the time. She also got ones from arbitron about her radio listening habits. They seem to have suddenly stopped coming about three years ago though.

I'd love to get picked to do this.

I don't even know how you get on some list that they check to call or however it works.

Heck, having a Tivo, they could probably pull that data to see what the Tivo subscribers are watching/recording and use it like the Nielsen ratings.

Start watching Arrested Development.



Please.

Ahem.

I think he was saying that it would be cool if everyone with a TiVo would essentially be a Nielsen member, with their TV habits affecting the ratings.

Nielsen also has one for the internet. I have done the Arbitron radio thing and am currently doing the internet Nielsen one.

Tell them you're not watching anything until they get rid of the onscreen logos, and if there's any independent stations that run shows bug-free put them down!
I got an Arbitron radio survey to do for a week, I made sure to put down the non-profit college station, and NO commercial stations! Under "comments" I wrote that Clearchannel is a disgrace to radio!

Looks like we have similar taste in TV shows. Maybe with you counted in the nelson rating, those shows I like watching will hang around a little bit longer.

It's pretty sad when I can't come into a thread like this and say "Oh... tell them that you watch [insert show here]".

The sad state of affairs is that the vast majority of my favorite shows are either gone (Farscape, Buffy) or have ceased to be the great shows that they once were (Alias, West Wing).

Although I still watch about 10 hours of scripted programming a week, there's very little that I consider worthy of 'saving' or promoting at this stage. Most of the shows I watch (NYPD Blue, ER, Law & Order, The Simpsons) are, frankly, ready to call it a day. I have zero interest in the current fad of reality TV/unscripting shows/whatever-the-hell-you-want-to-call-it.

Yet this is the same TV environment that cancels Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, My So-Called Life, Greg the Bunny, Futurama, Sports Night, Family Guy... It's just depressing.


I'll give a brief shout out for ANGEL... it may be beyond saving, but at least let the Powers That Be know that it's quality programming that's worth revisiting.