When it comes to TV ratings, the most important factor is the number of people watching the show. A bigger audience will mean more commercials. However, the audience does not guarantee the quality or quantity of a show. The quality of the presentation and genre of the television program are just a few of the many factors you need to consider when judging it.
Nielsen is a leading provider of television audience measurement and statistical sampling. Nielsen measures TV viewing habits using panels of panelists that include households. This information is provided to advertisers and television networks. They can also determine the best times of day to air new shows. They can also determine how often and how long a show is watched.
Nielsen uses statistical sampling in order to estimate its audience. The Nielsen estimates are not based on a statistical sampling method. Instead, it uses a representative sampling, typically a group of around 20,000 households. It sometimes conducts special tests in order to verify its accuracy.
Although viewers are the most important aspect of getting a television show off its feet, the number and quality of ads spent on the show is even more important. A network will have a greater chance of recovering their investment in programming if it has a higher rating. A higher rating also means more ad revenues. The best way to get your foot into the door is to produce a show which has a decent ratings.
The Big Bang Theory, for example, is a great example of a show that receives a high rating. TBS's production company makes a lot off this sitcom. Other successful shows include ABC’s The Office; Fox's Felicity; and UPN’s Smackdown.
The NCAA gymnastics championships are another notable example. They have reached a new viewing height. Even though it's a small feat of engineering, NBC Sunday games are amongst the top three primetime programs among women aged 18-34. NBC had six games last year with fewer that one million viewers, despite the popularity basketball and hockey.
There is no doubt that TV is a popular medium for entertainment. The U.S. has 121 million TV-equipped homes. Nielsen estimates that women account for 60% of broadcast viewers. Their purchasing power represents more than half all consumer purchases. To this end, networks are actively seeking shows that will increase their ratings.
The competition for viewers is fierce, just like in any other industry. In fact, there are a few shows that have skewed their audiences in the wrong direction. The Wild-Blues saw its ratings rise from 0.43 to 0.41. ABC's Hockey Saturday however, which has been broadcast for seven seasons, has seen a record number of viewers.