How are TV ratings determined?

Question

Do you have to watch the whole show, or just part of it?

Answer 1

There are two methods the Nielsen company uses to determine TV ratings:

1. Journals - a supposedly random sample of households in the country are sent journals, wherein they write down everything they watch on TV for a week.

2. Meters - a supposedly random sample of households are sent meters which they attach to their TVs that automatically report back what is being watched on TV.

For the meters, you don't have to watch the entire show for it to be counted. It averages how many people were watching for how many minutes and comes up with a number. So if you watch only half a show it will count, but not as much as if you had watched the entire show.

You can read more here:

http://www.nielsenmedia.com