tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1236303706936959572..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Shocking TV ratings newsBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14662801881718209402013-11-08T07:44:49.081-08:002013-11-08T07:44:49.081-08:00Thanks @Anonymous.Thanks @Anonymous.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13226400050585808012013-11-06T10:50:32.803-08:002013-11-06T10:50:32.803-08:00About a year ago I was randomly selected by Nielse...About a year ago I was randomly selected by Nielsen (by mail). They explained how they would phone me which isn't actually possible since I don't have a phone connected to the landline (only there for DSL).<br /><br />Then they sent me a booklet to fill out with my viewing (and $5). I couldn't fill out the booklet and sent email to the address they directed which never got a response (they then apologised a month later for having no one answer their emails).<br /><br />But I finally figured out why this doesn't work. They didn't care what shows I watched - they wanted to know which ads I watched live. If your answer is none then you aren't of any value to them.<br /><br />I watch plenty of TV on Netflix, DVD, youtube, hulu etc. I just never watch broadcast TV ads. I kept their $5 and sent nothing back. I'll bet they didn't count people like me in any way. (I'm 44 if that matters.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56540760052841743462013-11-05T22:18:42.617-08:002013-11-05T22:18:42.617-08:00I will never forgive HBO for canceling Carnivale. ...I will never forgive HBO for canceling Carnivale. Never.Tom G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66377189454590419222013-11-05T13:51:42.548-08:002013-11-05T13:51:42.548-08:00It's amazing to me that The Good Wife continue...It's amazing to me that The Good Wife continues to do so well considering how badly the network treats it. You never know from one week to the next exactly what time it will be on! Is it on after The Great Race to boost it's own ratings, or to bring up the ratings of TGR. How many people tune into that just so they won't miss the start of TGW?McAlvienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6680484985415964262013-11-05T11:32:46.424-08:002013-11-05T11:32:46.424-08:00I wonder if BETTER OFF TED would have done better ...I wonder if BETTER OFF TED would have done better when taking into account DVR and other platform ratings. That was a brilliant series. <br /><br />Although funny, I didn't tune in when it aired because the title didn't resonate with me. Didn't get what the show was about and it sounded bland. Maybe if it stayed on a little longer I would have caught it but I never saw it until after it was cancelled and I tried it out on Netflix. <br /><br />Interesting, got me thinking to how many shows would do better with just a name change or better promos. billnycnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20959359207317227542013-11-05T11:32:11.340-08:002013-11-05T11:32:11.340-08:00Mike, VCR usage would still have been noticed by N...Mike, VCR usage would still have been noticed by Nielsen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37152666232036596812013-11-05T10:53:53.750-08:002013-11-05T10:53:53.750-08:00I am outraged with the new trend of shows ending a...I am outraged with the new trend of shows ending at 8:01 or 9:01. I consider it a big slap in the face. It totally screws you if you want to record 2 shows. I feel like the networks are saying "F you" to their viewers. <br />Janetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88266773388024993152013-11-05T08:13:47.850-08:002013-11-05T08:13:47.850-08:00I don't think it would have saved SPORTS NIGHT...I don't think it would have saved SPORTS NIGHT because AIUI the limiting factor there was the availability of Aaron Sorkin, who thought THE WEST WING was likely going to be the bigger success.<br /><br />Some other shows, though absolutely. And - and I'm sure the RIAA has figured this out but won't admit it - watching the torrent numbers provides a quick, early clue as to what's turning into a hit.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15529650445317217522013-11-05T07:23:25.776-08:002013-11-05T07:23:25.776-08:00Even when all we had was network TV, I never quite...Even when all we had was network TV, I never quite understood how ratings (back then, just judged by Nielsen set-boxes and viewer "diaries") could be a reliable gauge of *anything*. Mostly, the numbers always just seemed to me to be what got pulled out of someone's algorithmic ass that basically ran on assumptions and fill-in-the-blanks deducement.<br /><br />I still only have network TV, altho that isn't by absolute choice. I actually have to watch shows live, and since I work afternoon shift several days a week, I miss a lot of good programs, or have to wait until they show up in syndication. But that doesn't mean I don't actually *see* some of those shows from time to time in ways that they're now tracking with new criteria that's a more adequate reflection of what's *really* going on.<br /><br />Way I see it, the *networks* are the ones who are the late adopters, not us middle-aged folk.ScottyBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16975230334609169462013-11-05T06:31:20.739-08:002013-11-05T06:31:20.739-08:00I had to check the date on this post to make sure ...I had to check the date on this post to make sure it wasn't an old one.<br /><br />DVRs were making a big splash in 2007. Time-shifting was a big deal in the '80s. Late adopters already have this - we are into laggard territory now.<br /><br />(I'm not at all a typical case, but I haven't watched live TV or even used my DVR for the past 4 years.)Juliannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24599949850217377782013-11-05T04:58:02.457-08:002013-11-05T04:58:02.457-08:00"This is especially good news for quality pro..."This is especially good news for quality programs like THE GOOD WIFE who find themselves in horrible time slots. THE GOOD WIFE on Sunday night must constantly compete with the best of HBO, Showtime, or any other cable channel bringing out their big guns (like MAD MEN). "<br /><br />Not to mention the damn football (and golf) games on CBS Sports which <b>always</b> run long. Gary Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11048007235331827147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78790639162522776862013-11-05T04:49:06.660-08:002013-11-05T04:49:06.660-08:00Thank goodness for alternatives to watching tv liv...Thank goodness for alternatives to watching tv live. I had skipped The Good Wife when it first aired. It looked like a soap and the title was stupid. (I wasn't really paying attention to the promos, because I had no idea it was about lawyers) Then I got sick and was couch bound for three weeks. After watching everything else I was interested in, I put on the pilot figuring I'd probably shut it off after ten minutes. Four days later I was sleep deprived trying to get to the fifth season premiere before it's on demand run ended on Nov 2. (the bastards lied, it was still listed on Nov 3) Thanks for talking about this show so much. And if you see the writers, tell them thank you for not going the easy angsty teen route with Alisha's kids. (The reason I stopped watching Homeland) And yes, I get the title now.Melissa C. Banczakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953145515216692625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10068975688971951712013-11-05T02:55:19.327-08:002013-11-05T02:55:19.327-08:00This might have helped two of my favorite short li...This might have helped two of my favorite short lived programs, Detroit 1-8-7 starring Michael Imperioli and Life with Damian Lewis. Both shows were quite engaging nothing at all alike in spite of both being police proceduals.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88866846303755866322013-11-05T02:26:24.506-08:002013-11-05T02:26:24.506-08:00We have everything on series link, and recording t...We have everything on series link, and recording two channels pretty much from 7 to 11 every day, we don't have time to watch live television. Saturday and Sunday are spent binge watching trying to free some space on the disk for the next week.Looseheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48832247125565720362013-11-04T19:44:09.557-08:002013-11-04T19:44:09.557-08:00Baseball is much more enjoyable when you start wat...Baseball is much more enjoyable when you start watching the game an hour after it starts and can zip through all the between inning commercials and the interminable pitching changes.Hank Gillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328364486555780403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30925705355890649032013-11-04T18:25:28.682-08:002013-11-04T18:25:28.682-08:00Egads!! Did my brain seize up or is my keyboard g...Egads!! Did my brain seize up or is my keyboard going wonky or both? Sorry about the spelling/grammar issues in my last post.Barbara C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13066983078171521691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50149861830754760362013-11-04T18:24:11.127-08:002013-11-04T18:24:11.127-08:00As a mom of five children, it is pretty much impos...As a mom of five children, it is pretty much impossible for me to watch a show live and actually be able to follow what is going on. The first button wear out on my remote is the "pause" because it will inevitably take me an hour and a half to get through 40 minutes of content between breaking up fights and emergency diaper changers.<br /><br />I also try to watch shows with inappropriate content for the kids when they're asleep on occupied in another room.<br /><br />I suspect I'm not a lone in this and they weren't getting a good understanding of what the 30-45 parent demographic was watching either.Barbara C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13066983078171521691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13885608245472738432013-11-04T16:35:21.653-08:002013-11-04T16:35:21.653-08:00@ Jim K.
I can't stand watching sports live. ...@ Jim K.<br /><br />I can't stand watching sports live. WAAAYY too many commercials and jabbering on about nothing. The only sport I watch is basketball, but I always wait until the game is done before I start watching, and then I can usually cut an hour off my watching time.Tim W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11860610849359449832013-11-04T16:33:19.167-08:002013-11-04T16:33:19.167-08:00I would say I watch 90% of my television shows on ...I would say I watch 90% of my television shows on our iPad, using the network apps (in Canada). So I actually end up watching MORE commercials than when I watch shows I've DVRed. And for most shows, I have no clue what night they are on. I just check once in a while, and if there's a new show I like, I watch it. <br /><br />And I'm in the over-40 (barely) crowd. <br /><br />Thinking about it, I watch NBA and a couple of recorded shows, on TV, most network shows on the iPad, and am currently watching Game of Thrones on DVD. <br /><br />It's about time they looked at other numbers.Tim W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53819815007226102392013-11-04T15:02:38.411-08:002013-11-04T15:02:38.411-08:00The viewing habits you describe were established i...The viewing habits you describe were established in the '80s with VCRs. Are you saying that the all-powerful ratings - the sword of Damocles - have given false numbers for thirty years? Now I understand what happened to the American car industry.<br /><br />I don't believe any series is ever cancelled prematurely. My rule of thumb is that a programme's lifetime should be half what it is. For example: end <i>MASH</i> when Frank Burns left, end <i>Cheers</i> when Diane Chambers left, end <i>Frasier</i> when Daphne fled the altar with Niles. (Especially <i>Star Trek</i>. With all of time & space at their disposal, how could the writers run out of ideas after only one season?)<br /><br />In the UK, it's common for imports to disappear after a season or two, even if they're successful. Cable channels outbid the networks. (We could only afford either <i>Desperate Housewives</i> or <i>Lost</i>.) In contrast, all the produced episodes of a cancelled import are shown, like shipping toxic waste to Africa. (The surprise ending to <i>Lyon's Den</i>...) Further to my comments on <i>The Good Wife</i>, only the first two seasons of <i>Breaking Bad</i> have aired here, on a back-of-beyond channel.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55985372010410239672013-11-04T12:32:25.525-08:002013-11-04T12:32:25.525-08:00I refuse to watch shows on my iPhone. I do pipe mu...I refuse to watch shows on my iPhone. I do pipe music into my head while out walking, but watching a tiny TV while out in the world carries pathetic to a whole new level.DBensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87090411886458423082013-11-04T12:14:29.067-08:002013-11-04T12:14:29.067-08:00I'm another who never watches shows live, exce...I'm another who never watches shows live, except for sports. (I don't watch TV news at all.) Even if I'm going to watch a show the same night, I'll wait a half hour so I can fast-forward through the commercials. And after I made the mistake of watching Lone Star from the beginning, only to have Fox cancel it after two episodes, I usually wait before bothering with new series unless they really compelling or have so much buzz the network is unlikely to pull the plug immediately.<br /><br />(I like James Wolk, and really don't understand why Fox gave up on Lone Star so quickly; it wasn't that bad, and needed time to develop.)<br />Sherrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22387015302541930862013-11-04T12:13:38.297-08:002013-11-04T12:13:38.297-08:00How can ANYONE hate F TROOP???
The classic exampl...How can ANYONE hate F TROOP???<br /><br />The classic example is undoubtedly the original STAR TREK. Back in those days, Nielsen mainly concentrated on total viewers. When it exploded in reruns, Nielsen and Arbitron decided that breakdowns should take more precedence, and thus were "demographics" born. Alas, they've gone too far in the other direction, and now "The Demo" is everything, as HARRY'S LAW proved.<br /><br />Another interesting case is THE BETTY WHITE SHOW (the post-MTM sitcom), which CBS quickly yanked after it got squashed by Monday Night Football. They later discovered that the viewership was almost entirely women, and had they hung on till February, it would likely have blossomed into a full-scale hit.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17421549420542912962013-11-04T12:09:33.420-08:002013-11-04T12:09:33.420-08:001. I no longer watch anything I plan to watch when...1. I no longer watch anything I plan to watch when it's live. I find the amount and quality of the commercials to sit through to be annoying. However, I do keep watching the commercials as I FF through them and notice what they are for. It also helps me to spend time with my family and we can burn off and watch other stuff we recorded.<br /><br />2. There are a number of us who love to watch the old '80s commercials on YouTube or somewhere else. Even prior to YouTube, there were sites dedicated to them. The spots still work today, and I buy the product.<br /><br />3. The thing I really miss from the three network/no DVR universe is the anticipation and watching something as a nation together. Think of Roots, etc.<br /><br />2. Bob Summersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72279216472969269182013-11-04T11:03:22.063-08:002013-11-04T11:03:22.063-08:00Live TV is a rarity for me, and honestly has been ...Live TV is a rarity for me, and honestly has been since I got my first VCR and realized I could compress an hour of TV into 45 minutes or a half-hour into 20. I've been time-shifting ever since (heck, I remember running two VCRs in different rooms for different programs). <br /><br />It's nice that Nielsen is figuring this out some 20 years later, but I do get worried about the future of commercials. I don't like being stuck watching all of them (though I DO voluntarily watch the ones I find interesting), but I recognize they are a necessary part of the whole.Bryan Lnoreply@blogger.com