*passes Cindy some calamine lotion.*

Ha! Denise, I actually have a rash of unknown origin, and Walgreens was out of Calamine, last night.

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.)].

The numbers are the same, though -- people watching Fox/NBC/etc via cable/satellite are too small a segment of the population to stand up against Nielsen ratings.

Really? I'm seeing figures like 84% of households have cable TV, now. [link] This site reports 68% as of 2003 [link]

Wiki says 'most' American households receive cable, but doesn't quantify it, here: [link] and 'the majority' here: [link]

Granted, your point stands. Whatever the actual percentage is, it is only a percentage and leaves out a significant section of the audience -- all the people watching from the airwaves. Nielsen can select households to correctly represent cable viewers versus broadcast viewers.

Topic!Cindy, no problem. For what it's worth, I've never suggested people at conventions etc are a typical TV audience. They're clearly not. In the UK, "Doctor Who" is a rare sci-fi show which does well because it attracts 2 point 4 children families, which are openly acknowledged as the families our ratings companies target. Most other sci-fi shows here do rubbish, as they don't attract mummies and daddies with kiddies to watch. Which is an obvious bias. What I will say is that the viewing habits of people outside the mainstream should be counted. Which is obvious.

When we had Nielsen in today, they implemented a system which allows my company to track what food people buy at UK supermarkets. The leading UK supermarkets supply their till data to Nielsen, who supply it to us now. We can search and find a product bought at whatever store at whatever time. It allows for great statistical analysis, and allows us across the board to see what's selling, where, when etc. Privacy has obviously gone out the window, like.

ETA: When I worked at Telewest (now Virgin Media), we used to gather and analyse TV viewing habits.

Jackal, I'm unsure if it's okay to post things heard 'round the Drive office. Unless Tim says it cool. In which case, disregard my mommying.

You're probably right - I'll delete. I didn't post anything that controversial, but I just didn't want Kevin being dealt the smackdown when he wasn't completely wrong.

Life is hard.

I'm happy to let TiVo know what I watch, and which ads actually catch my eye.

It's the only way I'll be heard.

I wouldn't object to my tv habits being tracked, but the equipment might overheat when one of the boys in my house has the controller. They don't know about my evil commerical skipping ways because I still use VCR.

la la la don't hear any ratings stuff la la la

I am not a Fox executive and am therefore clueless as to what the plan is for Drive. My head would surely explode if I tried to think like a Fox exec, so I shall not try. I plan to watch next Monday. I rarely plan my life so far in advance, but hey I may give this life planning thing a try.