When you DVR a TV show, does that show get credit for being watched in that time slot?

Question

When you DVR a TV show, does that show get credit for being watched in that time slot?

Answer 1

Actually, shows get credit based on surveys.  The survey data is collected in a number of ways.

1) People Meters and Household Meters - this is equipment that the ratings survey company installs on your TV at your house (with your permission, of course).

2) Ratings diaries - these are books that viewers fill out about their viewing habits.

3) Telephone surveys.

In all cases, the viewers know that they are part of a survey group, agree to participate, and are usually paid some small amount for supplying viewing data.  That data from the small survey group (sample) is then run through some mathematical magic to calculate the "rating" for each show.

That said, if you are not part of the survey group, nobody knows what you are watching, if you watch it live, or DVR it.  Our Research Director tells me that, for someone in the survey sample, watching a show that was recorded on a DVR will be credited to the show in the original time period as if it were viewed live.