Nielsen are changing their system, they are already running tests in collaboration with Twitter, and from Fall 2013 numbers for the “Nielsen Twitter TV Rating” will be available. It’s though only an enhancement of the classical TV viewer ratings, because it still is focused on live airing.
So here’s my question. Every Monday I wait for tvbythenumbers to put out the overnight’s for ONCE to post here. Once Nielsen changes over to this new model, which (in my opinion) finally includes stuff like Twitter, how will this change what I view for the overnights? Am I going to get to different sets of ratings: Twitter and non-Twitter?
Also, I’m not sure if older generations watch “more” TV than the younger generations. I’m 26 and I can assure you that my generation watches an unholy amount of TV and the TV that is the most successful either in ratings or in cult following are the ones watched by the 18-50 yr olds (everything from the teenage show Pretty Little Liars, which never fails to trend on Twitter the night it airs, to British cult sci-fi Doctor Who, even to Once). My generation and the ones below me watch a crazy amount of TV and we also talk about it more and are more likely to purchase the merch, which is why Nielsen is “changing” the way it does things (change is in quotations b/c it sounds like’s only changing every so slightly. It’s not that the over 50s don’t count but I think it’s a stretch to say they watch more TV.) But Myril is right, it’s about money and it’s about advertisement. My mom and I may watch the same amount (hours) of TV every day but we watch radically different things. She’s content with the cooking channel and watches very little network TV, but I watch mostly network TV which is where advertisers go to promote their goods. Most TV shows are designed to sell to the 18-50 age group, but again that’s the money/advertising issue.
So grab your towl, drink a cup of Earl Grey and … Don’t Panic! 😎
I always know where my towel is. Ford would be very disappointed in me if I didn’t.
Thanks for the overview.