How exactly are TV rating figures calculated/obtained?
- Thread starter TallGlass
- Start date
Charlotte B
New member
This has been discussed and answered many times in the Broadcasting section.
I've often wondered just how accurate these figures are.
When the Powers That Be come out with statements such as "19.7 million viewers watched Cockney McGeezer's last episode of Eastenders last night" I know I didn't watch it, my neighbours on both sides didn't watch it, and neither my parents nor my in-laws watched either, so how does this affect the final figure?
With the advent of Digital TV, is there are more accurate way of recording ratings, especially as I'm guessing the TV providers could probably get data from their set-top equipment as to what you are watching and what you are recording?
When the Powers That Be come out with statements such as "19.7 million viewers watched Cockney McGeezer's last episode of Eastenders last night" I know I didn't watch it, my neighbours on both sides didn't watch it, and neither my parents nor my in-laws watched either, so how does this affect the final figure?
With the advent of Digital TV, is there are more accurate way of recording ratings, especially as I'm guessing the TV providers could probably get data from their set-top equipment as to what you are watching and what you are recording?
Steelers champions!
New member
Well even if 19.7 million householRAB were watching Cockney McGeezer then that still leaves 7 million odd who weren't. Which is room enough to accomodate you, your neighbours, your parents and your inlaws so it wouldn't have to affect the figures at all. If they ever said that 80 million had watched something then your non-viewing would be an issue, as would the fact that that's more than the population of the UK. 
However from BARBS FAQ section the answer to the original, and oft asked, question is:
"BARB is responsible for providing estimates of the number of people watching television. This includes which channels and programmes are being watched, at what time, and the type of people who are watching at any one time. BARB provides television audience data on a minute-by-minute basis for channels received within the UK. The data is available for reporting nationally for terrestrial, satellite and cable reception for both analogue and digital platforms and at ITV and BBC regional level.
Viewing estimates are obtained from a panel of television owning householRAB representing the viewing behaviour of the 26+ million householRAB within the UK. The reporting panel of 5,100 homes is selected to be representative of each ITV and BBC region. The service covers viewing within private householRAB only.
Panel homes are selected via a multi-stage, stratified and un-clustered sample design so that the panel is representative of all television householRAB across the whole of the UK. A range of individual and household characteristics are deployed as panel controls to ensure that the panel remains representative. As estimates for the large majority of panel controls are not available from Census data it is necessary to conduct a bespoke survey (the Establishment Survey) to obtain this information.
The BARB Establishment Survey is carried out on a continuous basis and involves some 53,000 interviews per year. It is a random probability survey which means that every private residential household within the UK has a chance of being selected for interview. The survey ensures that any changes taking place in the population can be identified so that the panel can be updated and adjusted to ensure that it continues to reflect the television-owning population. In addition to being the prime source of television population information, such as the number of multi-channel homes, the BARB Establishment Survey also generates the potential recruits from which panel member homes are selected.
When a household agrees to join the panel their television sets, PVRs, VCRs etc. are electronically monitored by a meter. Each TV in a home is connected to its own meter which holRAB an electronic record for the set. The meter is a small box which is put close to each television set and connected to it. The meter automatically identifies and collects information about the channel that the panel member is viewing.
All panel household residents and their guests register their presence when in a room with a television set on. Each individual does this by pressing a button allocated to them on the peoplemeter hanRABet. The metering system monitors all registrations made by each individual for each television in the home.
The panel member does not need to do anything else for BARB to capture the viewing in their household everyday. Throughout the day the meter system stores viewing undertaken by the entire household. Each night between 2am and 6am the data processing centre automatically downloaRAB the data from panel homes (a process known as 'polling'). This procedure is carried out on every panel home every day to produce live 'overnight' minute-by-minute television viewing data.
VCR, DVDR, PVR playback and "catch-up" VOD services is reported if it takes place within 7 days of the original broadcast. This viewing (known as timeshift) is then added to the live data to produce the final, minute-by-minute consolidated audience, available 8 days after the original transmission date. Consolidated data is the
However from BARBS FAQ section the answer to the original, and oft asked, question is:
"BARB is responsible for providing estimates of the number of people watching television. This includes which channels and programmes are being watched, at what time, and the type of people who are watching at any one time. BARB provides television audience data on a minute-by-minute basis for channels received within the UK. The data is available for reporting nationally for terrestrial, satellite and cable reception for both analogue and digital platforms and at ITV and BBC regional level.
Viewing estimates are obtained from a panel of television owning householRAB representing the viewing behaviour of the 26+ million householRAB within the UK. The reporting panel of 5,100 homes is selected to be representative of each ITV and BBC region. The service covers viewing within private householRAB only.
Panel homes are selected via a multi-stage, stratified and un-clustered sample design so that the panel is representative of all television householRAB across the whole of the UK. A range of individual and household characteristics are deployed as panel controls to ensure that the panel remains representative. As estimates for the large majority of panel controls are not available from Census data it is necessary to conduct a bespoke survey (the Establishment Survey) to obtain this information.
The BARB Establishment Survey is carried out on a continuous basis and involves some 53,000 interviews per year. It is a random probability survey which means that every private residential household within the UK has a chance of being selected for interview. The survey ensures that any changes taking place in the population can be identified so that the panel can be updated and adjusted to ensure that it continues to reflect the television-owning population. In addition to being the prime source of television population information, such as the number of multi-channel homes, the BARB Establishment Survey also generates the potential recruits from which panel member homes are selected.
When a household agrees to join the panel their television sets, PVRs, VCRs etc. are electronically monitored by a meter. Each TV in a home is connected to its own meter which holRAB an electronic record for the set. The meter is a small box which is put close to each television set and connected to it. The meter automatically identifies and collects information about the channel that the panel member is viewing.
All panel household residents and their guests register their presence when in a room with a television set on. Each individual does this by pressing a button allocated to them on the peoplemeter hanRABet. The metering system monitors all registrations made by each individual for each television in the home.
The panel member does not need to do anything else for BARB to capture the viewing in their household everyday. Throughout the day the meter system stores viewing undertaken by the entire household. Each night between 2am and 6am the data processing centre automatically downloaRAB the data from panel homes (a process known as 'polling'). This procedure is carried out on every panel home every day to produce live 'overnight' minute-by-minute television viewing data.
VCR, DVDR, PVR playback and "catch-up" VOD services is reported if it takes place within 7 days of the original broadcast. This viewing (known as timeshift) is then added to the live data to produce the final, minute-by-minute consolidated audience, available 8 days after the original transmission date. Consolidated data is the
justice4jcc
New member
Interesting..but that begs another question.
Does anyone know personally, or have you ever met, any family members from these 5,100 homes ?
Granted, it's not many out of a population of 60 million, but you would think that over time you might have bumped into someone in a pub, or elsewhere, who's viewing habits were being monitored. Perhaps they are sworn to secrecy ?
Does anyone know personally, or have you ever met, any family members from these 5,100 homes ?
Granted, it's not many out of a population of 60 million, but you would think that over time you might have bumped into someone in a pub, or elsewhere, who's viewing habits were being monitored. Perhaps they are sworn to secrecy ?
Even with a small sample size like that if they know what they are doing and the sample is varied and weighted properly the margin of error is likely to be under 5%. Even then every program is rated under the same system so while the actual numbers of people might be off - the comparison to each other is useful as they all carry the same error margin. Look how reliable opinion polls at elections have become with a very small sample size.
Not personally. There have been a few on forums who have mentioned being panel members. I don't think they are told to keep it secret but I would guess some level of discression is advised.
Not personally. There have been a few on forums who have mentioned being panel members. I don't think they are told to keep it secret but I would guess some level of discression is advised.
B
brittanysagex0
Guest
Well what ever system is used is rubbish becuase all it takes is the tv being off and free view box being on or both being left on.
I cant see how the figures are remotely accurate, I am sure there is some clever maths involved which can guess the figures but I cant see how asking less that 60,000 people out of 27,000,000 what they watch can give a valid result.
The survey only tells you what whose 60,000 odd people watched, the viewing figure should be reported as an estimate, ie the estimated viewing figures based on our sample survey for Cockney McGeezer is 19.7 million.
Makes you wonder how many programs have been canceled due to poor ratings just because the small sample group does not watch them.
If they sampled say 2 million viewers then that would give a better example of what people are watching.
The survey only tells you what whose 60,000 odd people watched, the viewing figure should be reported as an estimate, ie the estimated viewing figures based on our sample survey for Cockney McGeezer is 19.7 million.
Makes you wonder how many programs have been canceled due to poor ratings just because the small sample group does not watch them.
If they sampled say 2 million viewers then that would give a better example of what people are watching.
threesevens
New member
The way they 'calculate' viewing figures is a joke.
One person in several thousand is chosen to be the representative. If everyone around them loves Star Trek, but they like Jeremy Kyle, theirs is the 'voice' that will be heard.
I've been a prolific 'consumer' of American shows over the past few years, and this system (amplified greatly over there) has been the bane of my existence for quite some time ...
One person in several thousand is chosen to be the representative. If everyone around them loves Star Trek, but they like Jeremy Kyle, theirs is the 'voice' that will be heard.
I've been a prolific 'consumer' of American shows over the past few years, and this system (amplified greatly over there) has been the bane of my existence for quite some time ...
I used to think they monitored each individual television set in Britain from signals and could tell what channel someone was watching and when. Bit silly trying to guess how much are based on 5,100 homes. For all we know, Coronation Street is probably still getting 20 million viewers!
True, and in regarRAB to ratings i find it all to be Barbshit to be honest.
Take the USA for instance 350 million people yet no show on networked tv breaks 20 million, a lot of shows get around 5 million on NBC and that is considered a hit.
Ratings are nothing but a lie based on mistruths.
Take the USA for instance 350 million people yet no show on networked tv breaks 20 million, a lot of shows get around 5 million on NBC and that is considered a hit.
Ratings are nothing but a lie based on mistruths.
At the risk of pointing out the obvious, it's the TV companies who pay for the ratings information they get, so it's in their interests to ensure it's as accurate as it can be (or at least accurate enough.)
The notion that networks deliberately skew research to emphasise soaps and reality programmes and low-ball (say) science fiction and fantasy is nonsense - trust me, if genre programming got better viewing figures, it's all we'd see!
The notion that networks deliberately skew research to emphasise soaps and reality programmes and low-ball (say) science fiction and fantasy is nonsense - trust me, if genre programming got better viewing figures, it's all we'd see!
I don't think any of the top-rated shows of all time were soaps or reality, they were either sport or national events like a state funeral.And the national grid is a good guide - they can tell you how many people nipped out to make a cuppa at the end of a popular programme.