I've been getting under people's feet at the Drive offices for the last two weeks.

Cable networks should provide viewing figures back to Nielsen and the like, really. Cable boxes have return paths back to the network, so can supply data back.

Fox isn't a cable network, it's broadcast. Totally different numbers.

I didn't mean Fox in particular, Jessica, although I'd assume Fox is shown on localised cable networks. Unless it's set up differently from the UK.

That effects net viewing figures to some extent.

It only affects net viewing figures if that person is a Nielsen family.

Jessica, by "cable networks" I think he meant "cable companies" like Comcast, RCN, etc. [not cable networks (like Bravo, USA) versus broadcast networks (NBC, FOX, ABC, etc.)].

In other words, the cable companies could report on all of their customers, rather than Nielsen sampling households. Of course, the fact that most Americans wouldn't agree to that, because they don't want people spying on them in their homes, means the whole conversation is just more uneducated speculation.

Yes, I used to work for Telewest on their cable network, so I meant cable company. Doesn't Tivo report back stats, though?

means the whole conversation is just more uneducated speculation

Uhm.

TiVo keeps asking me to sign up for better surveillance more detailed data collection so they can report accurate numbers. I don't *think* so. Anyway, if they looked at my in-depth usage, they'd see that I only watch ads if they're for movies: that's nobody's desired demographic.

means the whole conversation is just more uneducated speculation

Uhm.

I'm sorry. The circular conversations we have in here about ratings and cancelations, and whatnot make my skin itch and that came across more blunt than I intended. I'll try to clarify my point. Does it look good for Drive? No. Are any of us average American viewers? No.

We post at a posting board spawned by our love of a show that was never more than smart cult hit -- and it ended four years ago, with its ratings starting to decline. In general, we spend way too much time on the internet. Some of us go to conventions. Some of us run conventions. Few of us fill the bill of the typical American viewer coveted by advertisers.

Besides the fact that we're not all even Americans, an awful lot of us are early adopters of things like TiVoing (which means avoiding ads) and some people obtain the shows through means that are probably less than legal. We write blogs, fan fic, run fan sites, and make icons. When one of us ends up as part of a Nielsen family for a week (which has happened once or twice), it may well have been a mistake in judgment on Nielsen's part.

But? We always end up in this conversation, and when people talk as if the TV habits and opinions held by us and other people we "know" on the internet is indicative of anything, it makes me itch.

Of course, the fact that most Americans wouldn't agree to that, because they don't want people spying on them in their homes, means the whole conversation is just more uneducated speculation.

Of course if it meant that the shows I actually loved got to stay on the air I wouldn't care that much about the cable company knowing what I watched.

But, ARGH! I'm not talking about ratings!! It gives me the agita! The whole topic!

*passes Cindy some calamine lotion.*