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Nielsen Ratings in the Age of the Internet
alphadogg writes "If everyone started watching '24' or 'CSI' on video iPods or streamed over the Internet — instead of on TV in their living rooms — these top-rated shows would probably go the way of 'Cop Rock.' This is because Nielsen Media Research cannot collect data about what people watch on handheld video-viewing gadgets or from PCs streaming network TV shows. While Nielsen estimates around 90% of TV viewing still happens in homes, it's this burgeoning 10% that TV networks and advertisers are desperate to delve into." Note that this story is obnoxiously spanning 6 pages. For a publication named "Network World" you'd think they'd know better.
We were a Neilsen family for a while and I have no idea how they made sense of the data. Little to no sports, random shows late at night, no reality shows. Basically nothing that was particularly popular or current ( except maybe Letterman).
The 4 main family members (age, sex) were keyed in permanently, but guests had to be entered in when they were over. I always enjoyed keying friends in as 85 year old women, 3 year olds, etc. Of course we'd get sick of it and just leave the TV on a channel and wonder off. I can't imagine what they thought of an 85 year old women watching a Sailor Moon marathon.
If the shows were available online for purchase
They are. iTunes Music Store has all of those shows. Although they hadn't yet posted Season 3 premiere of Battlestar as of sunday morning.
if they were offered in a format that was conducive to what we want (ie no DRM)
Ah, so you're one of those Slashdot masses living in fantasy-land. No they are not DRM-free. Nor is any other TV show available now or in the future. Cope.
we would consider purchasing them.
Bullshit. You're just so happy that since they aren't DRM-free, you can justify taking the content for free. And since they'll never be DRM-free, you'll have a handy excuse to explain your piracy until the end of time. You're not fooling anybody.
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