When it comes to TV ratings, the most important factor is the number of people watching the show. A greater audience means that there are more commercials. The audience is not necessarily indicative of the quality and worthiness 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 top provider of television audience measurement. Nielsen uses panels of panelists to measure television viewing habits, which includes households. This information is shared with television networks and advertisers. They can, for example, determine the best time to air a new series. They can also determine how often and how long a show is watched.
Nielsen uses statistical sampling in order to estimate its audience. This means that it doesn't attempt to estimate the number viewers on every cable or digital antenna in the nation. It uses a representative sample, which is usually a group consisting of approximately 20,000 households. It may conduct special tests to verify its accuracy.
The number of viewers is an obvious way to get a TV show off the ground. However, it is more important to consider the amount of advertising dollars spent on that show. Because a network can recoup their investment in programming with a higher rating, it is more likely to succeed. Higher ratings mean more ad revenue. Producing a show with a good rating is the best way to get in the door.
A good example is the Big Bang Theory. It is a sitcom but it generates a lot of revenue for TBS, its production company. Other successful shows include ABC's The Office, Fox's Felicity, and UPN's Smackdown.
Other notable examples include the NCAA gymnastics championships, which have reached a new viewership high. 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's six-game streak last season saw fewer than 1 million viewers, despite hockey and basketball being so popular.
TV is a well-known medium for entertainment. For instance, there are 121 million homes with TVs in the U.S. Nielsen reports that 60% of the broadcast audience is female. Their purchasing power represents more than half all consumer purchases. Networks are looking for shows that can boost their ratings.
As with any other industry, the competition for viewers is stiff. There are some shows that have actually steered their viewers in the wrong direction. This includes the Wild-Blues which saw its ratings jump from 0.43 percent to 0.41 percent. ABC's Hockey Saturday on the other hand has seen record numbers. This show has been in existence for seven consecutive seasons.