The majority of Nielsen families (metered homes) are randomly selected by surveying a certain area and determining the house or apartment which is in the center. The occupants of that structure are then actively recruited for the next 5 years. If an occupant moves out, the next occupant can become a Nielsen family, even if the previous occupants refused. If a home refuses, they recruit from randomly selected neighbors until someone says yes.

Maybe they are just keeping it to themselves. Can you imagine if the Nielsen member didn't watch a popular show but low rated and it gets cancelled, he/she will be vilified.

Famililes are not supposed to disclose they are participants. They can only tell family or friends, as Nielsen doesn't want any outside influence.

I was referring to this forum.

So was I. If anyone in this forum is a family, they're not supposed to brag about it, per Nielsen.

Sorry. I'll stop with the posts.

Are you THE Jay Nielsen of "The Jay Nielsen TV Ratings Co."?

:lol: first thing I was thinking as well.

Don't stop. I'm sure most of us here are interested in how it works.

What happens to your audio/video equipment if you're metered?

Please explain more!

I wish I could fully explain, but upon leaving the company, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

I can tell you they take the back of your tv/vcr/dvd player off, to attach the meter directly to every single working device in the home. Every device has to be metered in order for a home to participate. They run cables throughout the home to make sure all devices are attached to the ratings box. You have full use of your equipment, but if you need to move anything, you have to call them to move it for you.

One thing I forgot to mention, they will replace your equipment if anything happens to them due to the meters.

When I left the company, they were not able to meter DVRs, although this problem was top priority. It's been nearly 2 years, so they may have found a way to meter DVRs.